R A D I O     M A T C H     R E V I E W E D

 The games of the U.S.A.- U.S.S.R Radio Match are re-
published with annotations b y the American players.
The second part of this series will appear next month.

2.    MY GAMES WITH RAGOZIN

                        by Herbert Seidman

                                                                                                                CHESS REVIEW MARCH 1946

27. . . .        Q-R6?

Hallucinations! Until the moment my hand quitted the piece, I thought fate was at last smiling on me - changing a bad game to a good one.
Possibly best was 27 ... Q-B2 with a Pawn down in a Rook and Knight ending. 27 ... Q-Ql Is tricky, for if 28 QxBP, N-B3! wins the Knight (29 NxNP, QxN; 30 Q-B8ch, N-Nl). However, 28 NxP is sufficient for if 28 ... R-N6; 29 Q-B8 or Q-R8.

28 Q-Q7!          . . . .

The end of that dream! If 28 NxP??, R-B8; 29 R-BI, Q-R8; or 28 QxBP, RxN,or 28 P-R3 (P-N3 is answered in thee same way), P-QN4.

28. . . .        Q-B1

If 28 ... N-B3; 29 Q-Q8ch, N-Nl: 30 NQ5, P-R3! 31 P-R3! should win without difficulty.

29 Q-Q8    P-N3
30 NxP        . . . .

At last!

30 . . . .        K-N2
31 N-Q7     Q-R6
32 P-R3        . . . .

If 32 P-N3, N-B2 can be played. If 32 QxN?, R-B8; 33 R-Bl, , RxRch with a perpetual check.

32. . . .       R-B8

32... N-B2 may offer more hope since the following exchanges lead to a fairly definite win for White. However, with two minutes left on my clock.

I hurriedly concluded that I might have drawing chances.

33 RxR      QxRch   
34 K-R2    Q-B2ch
35 QxQ      NxQ      

Adjourned after thirteen hours or play.

36 K-N3         P-B3

I resume play, not exactly refreshed after two hours traveling, eight hours work and no sleep!

37 K-B3     K-B2     
38 N-N6     K-K2     
39 P-K4      N-N4    
40 K-K3     N-B6?

Very poor. A better fight might be made with ... K-Q3 and ... K-B3. though the game is lost with any defense.

41 K-Q3        N-N4

I intended N-Q8 but then noticed that after 42 P-B3 the Knight would be trapped.

42 P-B3        N-Q3
43 K-B3        P-R4

Passive resistance is equally futile.

44 K-N4        P-N4
45 N-B4!        . . . .

Else ....P-N5 might be annoying.

45 . . . .       N-B2
46 K-B5     P-B4
47 K-B6     PxP   
48 PxP       P-N5
     49 P-R4     Resign

My last hope had been to exchange the Knight Pawn, sacrifice the Knight for a center Pawn in the event of a Pawn exchange in that region, and win the remaining Pawn with my King, After the text, there is no hope at all.

I admired Ragozin's handling of this game. His play was enterprising, ingenious, always adequate to the situation. The "combined operation" against my Queen Knight Pawn was a particularly fine piece of play.

 

    (Seidman's games with Ragozin were among the most interesting and hardest fought of the whole match. –Ed.)

NIMZOINDIAN DFENSE
V. Ragozin         H.Seidmann
White                Black

1 P-Q4       N-KB3
2 P-QB4    P-K3    
3 N-QB3    B-N5   
 4 P-K3        P-QN3

Black's most promising line against 4 P-K3.

5 N-K2       B-N2
  6 P-QR3    BxNch

6 ... B-K2 is preferable. The text aids White's development and concedes the two Bishops. There is, however, some counterplay.

7 NxB        P-Q4

Aimed against 8 P-B3 followed eventually by P-K4 (building a strong center): and also to preserve the Bishop's influence on the diagonal.

8 B-K2          . . . .

Preferable to 8 B-Q3 because it preserves the possibility of fighting for the long diagonal with B-B3.

8. . . .          O-O
     9 O-O        QN-Q2
10 P-QN4      . . . .   

White welcomes Pawn exchanges, because opening up the position will favor the Bishops. He thus anticipates the inevitable ... P-B4, without which Black's game would be lifeless.

10 . . . .        PxP

The immediate ... P-B4 is risky.

11 B-N2        P-B4
12 BxP         Q-K2

Preparing to develop the Rooks and incidentally threatening the Queen's Knight Pawn.

13 Q-K2        . . . .

Developing, and defending the Knight Pawn indirectly. If 13 ... PxNP; 14 PxP, QxP; 15 B-R3, QxN; 16 KR-Bl, Q-R4; 17 BxR, Q-KN4; 18 P-B4 wins the exchange, (15 N-N5, as in the text, is also good for White).

13 . . . .       KR-Q1

With the Idea of playing 14 ... PxQP; 15 PxP, N-Bl exerting pressure against the isolated Queen's Pawn and having play on the black squares on the Kingside (... N-N3-B5 or R5). If 13 ... PxQP?; 14 PxP, KR-Ql; 15 P-Q5! Is a powerful thrust.

14 KR-Q1     . . . .

Maintaining the possibility of P-Q5 if Black tries to isolate the Queen's Pawn. White also has the alternative of 14 QPxP, PxP; 15 P-N5 with a promising Queen•side Pawn majority.

14 . . . .       PxNP

After 14… N-Bl White maintains his advantage.

15 PxP        QxP

Risky, but passive play Is not promising either.

16 N-N5         . . . .      

 Threatening 17 B-R3, Q-R4; 18 B-Q6 or 18 B-K7 winning the Queen.

16 . . . .        KR-QB1

16 ... Q-K2 loses a piece by 17 B-R3 and 18 N-Q6. But 16 ... QR-Bl may be preferable.

17 B-Q3        B-K5

17 ... Q-K2; 18 NxP leaves White with much the better game.

18 BxB         NxB

The two Bishops are gone, but Black's game is disorganized.

19 NxP        N-B6

19 ... R-B2 looks better (if 20 N-B6., Q-B1).

20 BxN        . . . .

If 20 Q-Q2, R-B2 or ... R-B5 is satisfactory.

20. . . .        RxB

20 ... QxB has been suggested as preferable, but Black's game is still uncomfortable.

21 Q-B3        . . . .

If 21 N-B6? RxR!; 22 NxQ. R(6)-B8 leads to a promising endgame for Black.

21. . . .       R-KB1

21 ... R-Kl is belter, During the game I was under the impression that there would then follow 22 Q-N7, N-B3; 23 N-B6, Q-Q3; 24 R-R7 forcing 24 .. R-KB1 after which White has a choice of 25 N-R7ch as in the text. or 25 N-K5, Q-Nl; 26 R-Nl.
I saw that 24 ... Q-Q2 (instead of 24 … R-KBl) was insufficient against 25 N-K7ch!, for if:

I 25 ... RxN: 26 R-R8ch!, R-Kl; 21 QxQ and wins.

II 25 ... QxN; 26 QxQ, RxQ; 27 RxR a.nd wins.

III 25 ... K-Rl; 26 QxQ. NxQ; 27 RxN wins.

IV 25 ... K-B1; 26 QxP, Q-Ql; 27 Q-N4, Q-Nl; 28 R-N7 winning.

I also thought that 24…N-Q2 was inadequate because of 25 P-Q5 (threatening both 26 QxN and N-Q4), overlooking the simple 25 ... QxP and White cannot capture the Queen because of the resulting mate.
Thus 24… N--Q2 would have justified playing 21 ... R-Kl.

22 Q-N7        . . . .

A dire fate shapes up for the lonely Queen's Knight Pawn.

22 . . . .       N-B3

If 22 …. Q-K2; 23 P-Q5 Is strong.

23 N-B6        Q-Q3

If 23.,. Q-N7?; 24 N-K5!, R-B7; 25 R-R8 wins very quickly (25…, N-Kl; 26 RxN!).

24 N-K7ch        . . . .

Wins the Queen's Knight Pawn.

24 . . . .           K-R1
25 R-R8        R-K1

Unfortunately there is no time for…R-B2.

26 RxRch      NxR
27 N-B8        . . . .

This looks risky, but isn't.

The authoritative notes to the USA-USSR Radio Match games in this series were prepared exclusively for CHESS REVIEW by members of the United States team. 

CHESS REVIEW, NOVEMBER, 1945     

TWO KNIGHTS’ DEFENSE
H.Seidman          V. Ragozin
White              Black

1 P-K4            P-K4
  2 N-KB3        N-QB3
3 B-B4           N-B3  

Since Ragozin Is reputed to be an aggressive, original player, it is interesting to speculate on the game that might have occurred it he had played 3 ... B-B4 and I continued with the intended Evan.’s Gambit 4 P-QN4 (do or die!).

4 N-N5        P-Q4
   5 PxP          N-QR4 
6 B-N5ch    P-B3  
7 PxP          PxP    
  8 B-K2       P-KR3
 9 N-KB3    P-K5   
    10 N-K5       B-Q3        
11 P-K B4   Q-K2     

11 ... O~O; 12 O-O, BxN; 13 PxB, Q-Q5ch;
14 K-RI, QxKP is a satisfactory equa1izing line.

12 N-QB3         . . . .

A good alternative is 12 O-O.

12 . . . .         BxN
13 PxB        QxP  

14 P-Q4         Q-KB4

14 ... PxP e.p. .seems slightly better.
15 QxP, O-O; 16 O-O transposes into a line favorable to White. However, after 15 QxP Black call play 15….B-B4 leading to very tricky play, for example 16 Q-K3 ( if 16 Q-R6, B-B1 drives the Queen back to Q3). QxQ (If 16 ... N-K5 or ... B-K5; 17 O-O is difficult to answer); 17 BxQ, BxP: 18 P-QN4, N-N2; 19 P-N5 (or 19 B-R6, O-O-O; but not 19 .. N-Q3; 20 B-B5), O-O: 20 PxP, N-Q3 with all sorts of combinations and counter-combinations.

15 Q-Q2         . . . .

15 B-K3 with an eye to 16 Q-Q2 and 17 O-O-O may be feasible, but the text seemed an easy way to hold the edge.

15 . . . .         B-K3

15 ... P-KN4 (to prevent 16 Q-B4) is hazardous: 16 R-KBl, Q-K3; 17 N-N5!, PxN; 18 BxPch, N-B3 ( if l8 ... B-Q2; 19 QxN wins a Pawn); 19 Q-B3, B-Q2 (If 19 ...O-O; 20 QxN, B-Q2: 21 QxQ,
PxQ; 22 BxB wins); 20 P-Q5!, QxP: 21 QxKN, R-R2; 22 R-B5!, Q-K3: 23 QxQch, PxQ and White has much the better game.

16 Q-B4         QxQ
17 BxQ          N-Q4
18 NxN           . . . .    

Preferring to straighten out Black's Pawn position rather than have my own weakened.

18 . . . .          PxN
19 P-QN3     . . . .

At this point I expected to win the game, for my Pawns are as easily mobilized as Black's, and I have the two Bishops to back them up. However, my following play Is too optimistic.

19 . . . .         K-K2
20 K-Q2       . . . .    

The Kings are best posted in the center.

20. . . .        N-B3
21 B-K3     P-B4   
22 P-N3       . . . .    

... P-N4 cannot be blocked for long (If 22 P-KR4, P-N3 is effective against P-R5), but ... P-B5 can be held off.

22 . . . .         P-N4
23 P-KR4       . . . .

The Pawn Is better left at R2.

23 . . . .         K-B3

I underestimated the strength of this. Other' moves are inferior.

24 QR-KB1        . . . .

Still hoping to profit by the opening of the King Rook file.

24 . . . .         N-K2

Taking the sting out of B-N4 and also with the possibility of ... N-N3 hitting the King Rook Pawn and supporting the advance of his own King Bishop Pawn.
 

     25 P-B4        P-QR4
26 P-B5        . . . .

With all the White pieces posted on the King•side, 26 ... P-R5 could have a most disorganizing effect.

      26 . . . .              QR-QN1
   27 K-B3           QR-N1
28 P-R5?           . . . .

The road to ruin. 28 PxPch, PxP; 29 P-R3 makes it difficult to lose the game for White, for instance 29 …RxR; 30 RxR, N-N3; 31 R-R6 or 29 …..N-N3; 30 B-R5. The blocking of the position with the text favors the Knigbt; conversely, the opening of the position would favor White's Bishops.

28. . . .        R-N1!

Blockading White's Pawn. Black a definite advantage now.

 29 P-R3       B-Q2
30 R-B2        . . . .

Avoiding an exchange of Bishops for the moment. My ideas about winning are gone. I would gladly take a draw.

30 . . . .          K-N2
31 R-QN1      . . . .  

31 P-R4 is far from inviting.

31 . . . .         B-N4
32 B-Q1          . . . .

White's Bishop is useless. While Black dominates the board. The exchange would therefore have been well motivated for White.

       32. . . .              KR-KB1  
33 R(1)-N2     R-N2
34 P-QN4        . . . .   

The time limit nears. As 34 P-R4, B-Q6: 35 P-QN4, PxPch; 36 RxP, RxR; 37 KxR, R-Nlch; 38 K-B3, R-N8 gives Black a fairly easy win, and mere stalling allows him to strengthen his position, I have no choice. I must try to block the position and exchange Bishops , hoping to restrain the advance of the King's Bishop Pawn.

34. . . .          P-R5
35 B-K2        . . . .

Confession that I've been outplayed.

35 . . . .              BxB   
36 R(N2)xB      R-B3  
37 R-QN2         R-N4

The first step In Black's plan to assure the advance of his King Bishop Pawn while keeping the Queen•side Pawns immobilized. This plan may be divided into the following stages:
(1) White’s Queen Knight Pawn will be blockaded by a Rook posted on QN until replaced by the Knight.
(2) Rooks will then be doubled on the King Bishop file (preferably at KB2 and KB3)
(3) The King will then be tree to replace the Knight on QN4.
(4) The Knight will be brought to KN2, tying a Rook to the defense of the King Rook Pawn.
(5) The King Bishop Pawn will be able to advance, subject to some tactical threats by White.

38 K-Q2         K-B2
39 R-N1          N-B3
40 R-KR1        K-K3
41 K-B3            . . . .  

Adjourned at this point. I spent a considerable amount of time finding the best counterplay.

41 . . . .                   R-B2      
42 R(1)-KB1        R(4)-N2
43 R-QN2             N-R2     
44 R(2)-KB2         N-N4ch

Stage one (see above).

45 K-N2         R(N2)-B2

Lest White's Queen Bishop Pawn get ideas, presumably.

46 R-KN1           R-QB3    
47 R(1)-KB1      R-KB1    
48 R-KN1          K-Q2      
49 R(1)-KB1     R(3)-B3

Stage two.

50 K-R2         K-B3
51 K-N2          N-B2
52 K-B3         K-N4

 Stage three.

53 B-Q2        N-K3

54 R-KN1        . . . .

Seeking counterplay along the King Knight file, if Black plays for connected passed Pawns-with an eye on QN6, where a Rook would mate Black.

54 . . . .         R(1)-B2

54 … P-B5; 55 PxP, NxP would have been strong against 54 R-KN2 as well as against the text. But 54 ... P-B5; 55 PxP, PxP gives White counterplay with 56 R-N6! threatening 57 BxP. If 56 ... P-K6; 57 BxP, RxR; 58 PxR, PxB; 59
RxR, NxR; 60 P-N7 wins.
 

Note that 54 ... N-N2 accomplishes nothing. White replies 55 R-KR2, when the Knight must return to K3, for lf 55 P-B5?; 56 PxP, PxP; 57 RxN or 55 R(1)-B2; 56 BxP!, PxB; 57 P-R6 regaining the piece with good chances or if 55 ... R(3)-B2; 56 B-Bl and Black dare not play 56 ... P-B5; 57 PxP, PxP; 58 R-N6 (or 58 BxP).

55 B-B1         N-N2

Stage four.

56 R-KR2         P-B5

Ragozin has played carefully to prepare the push. My inexact 54th move quickly proves fatal.

57 PxP         PxP
   58 R-N6       P-B6

58 ... P-K6 is answered by 59 K-Q3.

59 R-KB2         . . . .

If 59 BxP, RxR; 60 PxR, P-B7 wins as well as 59 ... NxP; 60 RxR, NxR with the winning threat of N-N5. If 59 B-K3, RxR; 60 PxR, R-B3 wins easily; but not 59 ... P-B7??; 60 RxBP! (not 60 BxBP, R-B6ch and 61 ... RxBch ); nor 59 ... NxP; 60 RxR, NxR, 61 RxP, K-B3 (if 61 ... N-N5??; 62 R-N6 mate);
62 K-Q2!, K-N2; 63 P-N5 with counterplay.

59 . . . .        RxR
  60 PxR        R-B3
  61 BxP        N-B3
62 B-B4        . . . .

If 62 P-N7, simply ... NxB.

62. . . .          RxP   
63 R-KR2   N-N6
64 B-K5        . . . .  

64 BxN, RxB Is hopeless for White (65 R-R6, P-B7ch!).

64 . . . .         N-K7ch
  65 K-Q2      R-N7       
66 R-R7?      . . . .      

I could just as well resign. If 66 R-R6 or R-R8, NxPch; 67 K-B3, N--B3 wins. If 66 RxR, PxR, wIns.

66 . . . .        NxPch
67 K-B3        . . . .    

One last gasp.

   67 . . . .         N-K7ch 

Or 67 ... P-B7; 68 KxN, P-B8(Q); 69 R-N7ch, K-R3; 70 R-N6ch, K-R2; 71 KxP, Q-Q6ch; 72 K-B6, R-N3ch; 73 BQ6, RxBch; 74 PxR, QxPch! and wins.
68 K-Q2 P-Q5

Resigns