You know the move I’m talking about. Or if you don’t know, you SHOULD know. Ossip Bernstein versus Jose Raul Capablanca. Moscow 1914.
FEN: 3r2k1/p4ppp/1q6/8/8/2R1P3/P3QPPP/6K1 b – – 0 29
In this harmless-looking position, Bernstein (White) was surely expecting Capablanca to play something like 29. … Qb1+ 30. Qf1 Qxa2, when White should be able to hold a draw. But Capablanca played a shot that should be the dictionary definition of “bolt from the blue”:
30. … Qb2!!
Amazingly, White has no way to simultaneously defend the rook and prevent checkmate. For example, 31. Qe1 Qxc3!, or 31. Rc2 Qb1+ 32. Qf1 Qxc2, or 31. Rd3 Qb1+ 32. Qf1 Qxf1+ 33. Kxf1 Rxd3, or 31. Qd3 Qa1+ 32.Qf1 Qxc3, or … you name it, Black has an answer.
One hundred five years later — yesterday in fact — I got to the position below in a game against my computer. Shredder had Black, and it was set to a rating of 2288, which I have found to be a good level where it is hard to beat but not impossible.
FEN: 2qr3k/6pp/3r4/1p3pP1/p6P/P1P2Q2/1P2R3/2K1R3 w – – 0 49
Shredder has just played 48. … Qc8 to stop the back-rank checkmate. Something about the position gave me the sense that there might be a combination in the air. Even though the back rank is defended for the moment, Black’s queen looks overloaded. Black’s rook at d6 is not able to help atall with back-rank defense.
The first moves I considered were 49. Qe3 and 49. Re7, but although they were promising, they didn’t look decisive to me.
That’s when a voice in my head said, “Wait, isn’t this kind of like the Capablanca position?” And I played:
49. Qb7! …
As in the Capablanca game, Black can’t take the queen because of Re8+ followed by mate. But I didn’t just make this move for show; I have some serious threats. The main threat, of course, is 50. Qxc8 followed by mate. Meanwhile, I’m also threatening Qf7 (the dream square for my queen) as well as the prosaic Qxb5.
Shredder played the move that I thought was forced.
49. … h6
Actually this move is not forced, and Rybka after the game pointed out 49. … Kg8, which defends f7 and also escapes from the back-rank mating net. I completely missed this! Nevertheless, White is winning after 50. Qxb5 Qd7 51. Re8+! Rxe8 (51. … Kf7 52. R8e7+ is also hopeless) 52. Rxe8+ Kf7 53. Qxd7+ Rxd7 54. Ra8. White wins a second pawn and the rook gets back just in time for defense. A really thematic variation is 54. … Ke6 55. Rxa4 Ke5 56. Rd4! (diagram)
FEN: 8/3r2pp/8/4kpP1/3R3P/P1P5/1P6/2K5 b – – 0 56
If you’re not sure, you should really play out a few moves after 56. … Rxd4 57. cd+ Kxd4 58. Kd2 to convince yourself that White’s connected passed pawns easily trump Black’s protected passed pawn. If Black doesn’t trade rooks, ,then White’s rook at d4 just dominates the board, and the armada of three connected passed pawns will decide.
Okay, now back to the game.
FEN: 2qr3k/1Q4p1/3r3p/1p3pP1/p6P/P1P5/1P2R3/2K1R3 w – – 0 50
50. Qf7! …
Threatening a check on e8. This time I believe Black’s reply is forced:
50. … Kh7
51. Re7 Rg8
52. R1e6 …
I have to admit, after this I thought the game was just over. I was expecting 52. … Rxe6 53. Rxe6 (threatening Rxh6 mate) Kh8 54. hg, when White’s attack will not be denied. But Shredder came up with a move I hadn’t counted on.
52. … Qd8!
FEN: 3q2r1/4RQpk/3rR2p/1p3pP1/p6P/P1P5/1P6/2K5 w – – 0 53
Whoa! All of a sudden Black is threatening mate in two, so it’s do or die for White’s attack.
There is probably more than one way for White to win here, but I found what I think is a really neat solution.
53. g6+! Kh8
54. Qxg8+! …
That’s right, my second queen sac in five moves! If Black plays 54. … Kxg8, then 55. Re8+ Qxe8 56. Rxe8 mate is a very pure checkmate. So Shredder played
54. … Qxg8
55. Rxd6 …
Black can’t defend the back rank and his queen is way too far from my king to force a perpetual check. For example, 54. … Qa8 55. R6e6 Qh1+ 56. Re1 and White can start celebrating. Instead the computer goes into material giveaway mode.
55. … b4
56. R6e6 Qf8
57. Re8 Kg8
58. Rxf8+ resigns
My combination is not quite as clear-cut as Capa’s, but I still love the idea of Qf3-b7-f7 and I love the second queen sac, 53. Qxg8+. I also think that this may be the first time when knowing chess history enabled me to find the winning move. I readily admit that I do not know as much chess history as I should, so this was a rare treat.
