... the initial position is decisive Zugzwang.
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[Event "U.S. Championship, New York"]
[Site "Huntsville"]
[Date "1944.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Denker, Arnold"]
[Black "Fine, Reuben"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Hayes, David"]
[BlackElo "unknown"]
[ECO "E43"]
[TimeControl "0"]
[WhiteElo "unknown"]
{ Arnold Denker was inducted into the U.S. Chess Hall of fame in 1992 after
career of chess play, book authorship, and organization. In this game, he
upsets Reuben Fine for the 1944 U.S. Championship in a powerful sacrificial
attack against the Nimzo-Indian. Back then the Nimzo-Indian was a new opening
line, yet to be tested in battle. This game earned Denker the first brillancy
prize of the tournament as well.|Enjoy! } 1. d4 { E43: Nimzo-Indian:
Rubinstein: 4...b6 } 1... Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 b6 5. Bd3 Bb7 6. Nf3 Ne4 7. O-O { White sacrifices a pawn for development. The sacrifice is difficult to
play by both sides. The one with the most knowledge of this opening line will
win. } 7... Nxc3 { The best way to accept the sacrifice. Black can decline the offer
with 7... f5 8. Qc2 returning to mainline. } 8. bxc3 Bxc3 9. Rb1 Ba5 { Black
cannot castle while the black bishop is on the loose. If 9... O-O, then 10.
Qc2 recovers the pawn. } 10. Ba3 d6 11. c5 $1 { Opening the position favors the
side with more active pieces. If now 11... dxc5 12. Bxc5 is good for white. } 11... O-O 12. cxd6 cxd6 13. e4 Re8 { Breaking the bishop's pin and preparing for
Nc6. } 14. e5 dxe5 15. Nxe5 { The knight draws near the black king. White
threatens 16. Bxh7+ Kxh7 17. Qh5+ Kg8 18. Qxf7+ Kh7 19. Rb3. } 15... Qg5 { 15...
Qxd4?? 16. Bxh7+ drops the black queen. Fine gives 15... Qg5 a question mark.
Perhaps in the game he just wanted some active play after dancing to Denker's
tune for so long. However, the move is easily brushed aside. Fine suggests
that 15... g6 16. Bb5 (16. Qg4 Nc6 17. Nc4 f5 and black is on the run) Qd5
17. f3 Bc6 18. Ng4 Kg7 is OK for black. } 16. g3 g6 17. Qa4 Qd8 { A difficult
move to find is 17... Rc8 18. Rfc1 Qd8 is equal. Macon Shibut notes that Fine
was visibly discomfited by now. Denker is said to have commented that "Fine
is busted higher than a kite. But that doesn't mean to say I'll win it. You
know me." Not 17... Na6? Qd7. } 18. Rfc1 { All of white's pieces are full of
energy. The threat now is 19. Rc7! } 18... b5 { Fine reports this move as a desperate
try, on other moves black is lost. 18... f6 19. Rc7 fxe5 20. Rxb7 exd4 21.
Bb5 Qd5 22. Bxe8 Qxb7 21. Qxa5 is good for white. 18... Na6 leads to the
pretty 19. Qxa5 bxa5 20. Rxb7 Qxd4 21. Nxf7 threatening Nh6+ and Bb2 for an
attack. } 19. Bxb5 Qd5 20. f3 Bb6 { What is this? Has black found counter play?
Now if 21. Bxe8 Qxe5 } 21. Rc5 $1 { If instead, 21. Bxe8 Qxe5 22. Rxb6? Qe3+. } 21... Bxc5 { Now black could try 21... Qxa2 22. Bxe8 Qxb1+ 23. Rc1 Qf5 24. Bxf7+ Kg7
25. Kg2 Bxf3+ 26. Nxf3 Qxf7 27. Rc8 threatening both Bf8 and Bd6. } 22. Bxc5 { Beside the obvious threat of Bxc8 is the line clearing Bc4. 22... Na6 23.
Bxe8 Nxc5 24. Bxf7+ Kg7 25. dxc5 Qxc5+ 26. Kf1 Bxf3 trying to get something
for the bishop. 22... f6 23. Bc4 Qd8 24. Rxb7 fxe5 25. dxe5 Qc8 26. Bd6. } 22... Rf8 $2 { Slightly better, but also losing was 22... Bc6. } 23. Bc4 Bc6 24. Bxd5 Bxa4 25. Bxa8 { This game is of historical importance despite black's
forgivable inaccuracies. Fine, ever the gentleman and sportsman, posed with
Denker after the tournament for a photo congratulating him on his victory. } 1-0