GameKnot: best annotated games

BEST ANNOTATED GAMES:

Tournament in Wijk aan Zee (annotated by G. Kasparov)
Kasparov, G. (2812) vs. Topalov, V. (2700)

Annotated by gameknot_com (1200): Anotated by GM Garry Kasparov (RUS). Nothing betokened a storm when I made this move. Topalov who is always eager to fight no matter if he has Black or White, if he plays me or any other adversary answered with I was sincerely surprised. Pirc-Ufimtsev Defense is not a usual one for Topalov, and this opening is hardly worth using in the…

"The Evergreen Game"
Adolph Anderssen vs. Jean Dufresne

Annotated by tag1153 (1478): Anderssen was one of the strongest players of his era (along with Steinitz and Morphy). In this game, dubbed "the Evergreen" game, he displays the art of the sacrifice no less than THREE times in an attacking combination which is simply historical. Take note of the subtelty of his 19. Rad1, and how it unleashes utter destruction on black's…

"The Immortal Game"
Adolph Anderssen vs. Lionel Kieseritzky

Annotated by tag1153 (1478): The game that follows is my second Adolph Anderssen masterpiece. First named "the Immortal Game" by Austrian superstar Ernst Falkbeer, this is perhaps Anderssen's finest work ever - and quite possibly the most famous game of chess ever played. In it, Anderssen plays the King's Bishop Gambit (which I am totally unfamiliar with). After sacrificing a …

Hypermodern complications...and a near fist fight.
Richard Reti (2650) vs. Alexander Alekhine (2775)

Annotated by tag1153 (1478): In researching some of the most famous games in the history of chess, I ran across this jewel. Let me say up front that I will provide only the most elementary analysis, as the sheer volume of complications that occurs is far beyond my meager abilities. There are actually two very interesting features of this game. The first is the fighting…

The Magician from Riga
Mikhail Tal (2475) vs. Vladamir Simagin (2625)

Annotated by tag1153 (1478): Mikhail Tal was perhaps the best attacking player of all time. The eighth World Champion was a calculating monster who loved to sacrifice pieces during attacking combinations. The game that follows was played during the 23rd USSR Championship (about four years before he won the title). Living up to his reputation as "the attacker's attacker", Tal…

Annotated by mybookrunsdeep (2000): This game features one of the sharpest lines in the Najdorf/English Attack. Black chooses the continuation 8...h6, where, as Finnish IM Tapani Sammaluvo puts it, Black burns his boats behind him. His king will never castle, at least not on the kingside, however, his pieces can develop freely and White is unable to stop Black's freeing d5 break. …

Beograd, Beograd
B Larsen (?) vs. B V Spassky (?)

Annotated by far1ey (1696): This is one of my favourite games and a game which every beginner chess player should see. In this game Boris Spassky demonstrates his ability to sacrifice accurately against Bent Larsen. It also shows how powerful a passed pawn can be. 1.b3: A typical Larsen move. Larsen was an adventerous player who allways like to play for wins. Larsen was…

Annotated by alfredjwood (2157): 1. I will annotate this game in the first person, playing Black. The reason is because I expect to give opinions in the notation. 2. As you watch the game, keep in mind that my initial plan with Black is always the same, every game I play: Play the opening as deeply as I know it, and play to wrest the initiative from White. In this game…

Interesting positional OTB game
marinvukusic (2118) vs. Black player (1880)

Annotated by marinvukusic (2125): This is a game I played recently OTB. The opponent is a young 2nd category player on the rise. I decided to put the game on Gameknot because it has some interesting moments and can be somewhat educational. I will focus on my thinking during the game and not necessarily on computer analysis for "absolutely best moves". First move is…

Leningrad City Championship 1973
A. Shashin (2350) vs. Victor Korchnoi (2650)

Annotated by tag1153 (1478): I'm a 1. d4 player. Always have been. Lately, I've been studying the Queen's and Nimzo Indian systems - and I ran across this game. I've never heard of this Sashin fellow, but the name Korchnoi cetainly caught my eye. I have come of the opinion that the strong GM types consider the Queen's and Nimzo Indian systems a little slow and boring (and…

The making of a Sicilian counterattack
White player (2190) vs. marinvukusic (2062)

Annotated by marinvukusic (2125): This is an old game I played when I was still a 1st category player, but it remains to this day one of my favourite (and best) games. I am posting it on Gameknot because it is a pretty typical Sicilian game, where Black counterattack is triggered basically by White's inactivity and lack of consistency. It is also a good representation of my…

Fighting the Sokolsky opening
White player (2189) vs. marinvukusic (2077)

Annotated by marinvukusic (2125): This is a league game played in 2003. I am putting in on GameKnot because I feel that the game overall (especially opening) is very instructive and shows a good recipe for Black against this rare opening. My opponent was a strong master candidate and one of a few prominent Sokolsky players in Croatia. Fortunately for me, I played against another…

Team play: Effect of competitive situation on style of play
White player (2142) vs. marinvukusic (2136)

Annotated by marinvukusic (2125): This annotation is meant to show the effect of competitive situation on my approach to the games in team play. *** Competitive situation was as follows: in (penultimate) round 8 of the 2nd league Centar championship we were hosts to the only remaining rival for the 1st place (the only position that leads to the upper rank of competition). We…

Annotated by ethansiegel (1767): This is my first gameknot game against someone rated 1800+, in my very first mini-tournament. I've been playing the Vienna Gambit as white, with a lot of success, since people play exf4, which gives white a great position (lots of development for the pawn). Minor disappointment. My idea here is to expand on the kingside, drive the knight…

Bobby Fischer's "Game of the Century"
Donald Byrne vs. Bobby Fischer

Annotated by tag1153 (1478): There is no telling how many copyright infringements I'm breaking right now, and I'm sure RJF would rip my head off for having the audacity to even LOOK at one of his games, but this game is by far one of my favorites and I wanted to share it with the masses. For the record, this game WAS NOT mine (it was played 14 years before I was born!) and…

A Spectacular Combination
Jeff Lowther (1875) vs. Michael Hosford (1784)

Annotated by escrimador (1914): 2006 Washington Open - Premier Section U2000 Everett, WA May 29, 2006 Round 6 Nimzowitsch Defense If there was ever a game where I cheated myself out of a spectacular combinational finish to a nice miniature and a cap to a solid tournament performance filled with strong attacking chess, then this is definitely it. I kick myself for not at…

Let's Play Chess
pascalbercker (1652) vs. yttrio (1634)

Annotated by yttrio (1893): This game, though not full of wild and crazy tactics, was one of my best games on GameKnot. It was a relatively even game up until the end. It also was the first time (and currently the only time) I encountered the situation of bishops of opposite color in a GameKnot game. Most of the analysis is pretty straightforward, but it should be…

Annotated by sodiumattack (1980): This is a game between me and my friend patagusto. I decided to annotate it since I think it is has some strategical and tactical themes. The King's gambit was one of the most important opening in the romantic age of chess. The theory teach us that accepting white's sacrifice is a better choice than refusing it with 2. ... Bc5 or 2. ... d6.…

Walking The Plank
Edward Lasker vs. Sir George Thomas

Annotated by escrimador (1914): WALKING THE PLANK Edward Lasker vs. Sir George Thomas London, England 1911 Dutch Defense For those of you not familiar with this famous little jewel from the annals of chess history, I present here an off-hand game played by Edward Lasker (USA), a distant relative to the 2nd World Chess Champion, Emanuel Lasker, and Sir George Thomas (ENG). …

Annotated by mybookrunsdeep (2000): This game will illustrate typical plans for Black in the Closed Sicilian. Known as the Hyper-Accelerated Dragon this allows Black to side-step the annoying Bb5 lines and still keep some nasty surprises for an unsuspecting White player. White still had a chance to transpose into an open Sicilian with 3. Nf3 followed by d4 or 3. Nge2 and d4,…

Annotated by mybookrunsdeep (2000): This game features an Open Reti, where White accepts doubled and isolated a-pawns for open lines and Queenside pressure. The Queen sortie to a4 then capturing on c4 is not so good as the Queen is misplaced on c4 and valuable time is wasted just to recover the pawn. Transposition into the main lines with Nf6 is possible, also a6, and c5 are…

Annotated by mybookrunsdeep (2000): This game is a Bogo-Indian which features some key positional ideas for the Black pieces. Here White wishes to avoid the Nimzo-Indian and is probably hoping for 3...b6 when the Queen's Indian Defense will lead him into lines where White has a good chance for a small but persistent advantage. I, however, prefer Efim Bogolubov's defense. Here…

Consultation Match
Paul Morphy vs. Count Isouard and the Duke of Brunswick

Annotated by tag1153 (1478): While on a chess playing tour in Europe, Paul Morphy took the night off and went to the Paris Theater to watch 'The Barber of Seville'. During an intermission, Count Isouard and the Duke of Brunswick (both accomplished amateurs) invited Morphy to their private box for a friendly game. What follows is a lesson on the art of the attack. 17 moves was …

Annotated by cash1981 (2126): Chess notation is a wonderful invention -- a time machine that allows us to enjoy chess games of all eras, even those played hundreds of years ago. Here we see one of the first great chess masters, Gioachino Greco, in action. While Greco is credited with developing some gambits, his main contribution to chess was to publish witty collections of…

Future World Champion gets DESTROYED!
Henry Bird vs. Emmanuel Lasker

Annotated by tag1153 (1478): Two years before achieving the ultimate title of World Champion, Emmanuel Lasker met Henry Bird (of the Bird's Opening fame) at the chess board for a match in a tournament in New Castle - upon - Tyne Great Britain. Utilizing an opening that is rarely seen in modern play (the Danish Gambit), Bird evidently surprises Lasker - and punishes him…

The 1st World Champion doesn't need his queen!
Serafino Dubois vs. Wilhelm Steinitz

Annotated by tag1153 (1478): Wilhelm Steinitz was the the first officially recognized World Champion. In this game, he conducts a brilliant queen sacrifice which leads to victory. It is the one of the best I have ever seen. While the concept of a queen sacrifice is not entirely foreign to most players, doing it in the manner that follows is simply beyond me. White's position…

When You Have to Win
yttrio (1650) vs. driss (1527)

Annotated by yttrio (1893): This game was part of GameKnot's 31st Tournament, Advanced section. Although the moves themselves are instructional, there was a key psychological idea that occured in this game. I had to win this game if I was going to advance in the tournament. A loss or a draw would result in me not advancing. My opponent, on the other hand, had already…

Bogo-Indian -- Game 16 -- Bugojno 1982
Gary Kasparov vs. Tigran Petrosian

Annotated by mybookrunsdeep (2000): This is a very instructional positional game played by a young Gary Kasparov, and a former world champion, Petrosian, who is reduced to a state of complete paralysis. A useful check, Black develops his second piece and is ready to castle. Objectively speaking, not the most ambitious move in Bogo theory. Here 4. Nbd2 is considered to be…

Exhibition Game (Stalking the Enemy King 101)
Wilhelm Steinitz vs. Rock (unknown)

Annotated by tag1153 (1478): I was playing through some games by Steinitz and ran across this one. In it, Steinitz sacs his queen for a beautiful 6 move forced combination that sends the enemy king right to the morgue. Enjoy:) Italian Game. Evan's Gambit. White cedes material for rapid development. Black leaves the book. 6...d6 was the play. Develops and prevents…

FIDE Interzonal (Brilliancy Prize)
David Bronstein (2575) vs. Ljubo Ljubojevic (2680)

Annotated by tag1153 (1478): The year is 1973. The location is Petropolis, Brazil. The event is the FIDE Interzonal. A field of Super- GM's get together to battle for the right to be the next challenger for the World Championship. Ljubojevic (#3 in the world) is leading the field going into this 11th (and final) round match. Bronstein, with the white pieces, conducts a…

Annotated by tag1153 (1478): Here is *gasp* one of my own games! I hope you enjoy:) As always, my standard. Oh no......another Dutch player. As I really hate playing against the Dutch, I decide to try to get black out of his book as quickly as possible. Once I play 2.c4 to gain space and clear a square for my Nb1, I have every intention of avoiding main lines. Interesting. I …

Annotated by mybookrunsdeep (2000): After four years, I have gone back to playing 1. e4, and am rediscovering the beauty of attacking play rather than the positional play of my beloved Reti/English. This game features a Four Knights Sicilian with a direct kingside attack. FYI for the novices, other 2nd moves for Black are 2...e6, 2...d6, and my personal favorite, 2...g6. I was…

Round 5 of Burbank Championships
J. Stein (2088) vs. bakerbaker (1635)

Annotated by bakerbaker (1200): I am Black. The person playing White was the highest rated person in this tournament. He ended up getting 1st, but I like this game because it reminds me I was the only person in the tournament who managed to beat him. The Benoni Defense. I immidiately challenge White's pawn. The strongest move. Moves like e3 and c3 are also okay, but they're…

Annotated by mybookrunsdeep (2000): Here is a game which illustrates White's plans against the Pirc defense and the typical kingside attacking positions that are latent in the position if Black doesnt play accurately. Aiming for the classical setup which is not as sharp as the Be3/Qd2 plans, but is very straight forward and logical nonetheless. White aims to restrict the…

Annotated by ghal (1766): I began my league match as white with D4 after seeing this move in this game. I was unaware at this point of how badly ignoring the rules of the opening would be his ruin. Sicilian. He was higher rated by 85 pts, and he wanted to attack. So I wanted to provoke him. A feeling of elation for black. A bad opening move against the sicilian.…

Annotated by alloutwin (1623): This was a perculiar game for me in that looking through it afterwards I consider the position to be fairly even throughout. However during the match had a strange feeling that I was losing. This may be a lack of endgame knowledge on my part, but see what you think. My favoured opening move, I have reasonable success with e4, but find d4 to lead…

Club game
bakerbaker (1781) vs. D. Springs (1678)

Annotated by bakerbaker (1200): I am White in this game I played at my chess club. It shows how only a couple of free developing moves can be worth more than just a measly pawn. The Sicilian Defense. Just about the only opening played at my club. Black commits to a plan too early in the game. I haven't shown exactly what my plans are, so Black shouldn't either. Gaining more…

Annotated by bakerbaker (1200): This is the move that best follows the rule, "develop your kingside and castle as soon as possible." Although this doesn't follow the rule of developing the kingside as well as 1...e5 does, it still controls the centre, opens up a development line for the queen, and strengthens the queenside. So because of these imbalances, 1...c5 is just as good …

Final Round of LA Open
bakerbaker (1795) vs. Twain Vinecour (1843)

Annotated by bakerbaker (1200): My game with this 80-year old guy is an excellent example of how a simple lead in development can totally annihilate your opponent's king. In double king pawn positions, and other open games, development is the most important thing. Instead of playing Nf3 like normal, I decided to see if this old guy knew the importance of development, by playing …

Annotated by mybookrunsdeep (2000): Here is a recent Petroff from a symmetrical king pawn mini-tournament. It has solid positional advice for aspiring players, along with a sacrificial ending for those of you who are looking for a show. The lesson here is to always have a plan. Here, Black drifts aimlessly, letting White accumulate small advantages and cash them in at…

Annotated by yellowlab (1837): 1. e4 has many good points. It attempts to secure space in the center, and open lines for the f1 bishop and the queen. The g1 knight might also develop via e2 in some lines. Two of the fundamental elements of chess: space and time, are well served by the move. There is a slight weakening to the d4 and f4 squares, which should also be noted.…

Quick Game
mybookrunsdeep (2051) vs. cube13 (1671)

Annotated by mybookrunsdeep (2000): This is a lightly annotated game which features an English-type setup against an Old Indian Defense. The game starts as a slow positional maneuvering battle but turns tactical around move 22, when I offer an exchange sacrifice for the chance to cement two knights on the 6th rank! 2. e4 could transpose into the Pirc or Modern. Another…

Annotated by yellowlab (1837): 1. d4 is the second most popular opening choice for white. It occupies one center square and attacks another (e5). It opens a line for the bishop on c1, and offers a slight boost to the queen's mobility. The d2 square is now an option for the knight on b1 as well. There is a slight weakening of the e4 and c4 squares, because the d-pawn can…

Online G/10 Tournament
bakerbaker (1795) vs. DonkeyKong (1643)

Annotated by bakerbaker (1200): I am white in this fast time control game. It shows how having more mobility for development is more important than a stupid pawn. This is the most popular response in Grandmaster games, but 1...e5 is the most popular amongst amateur games. Accurate developing move. Committing to a plan too early in the game can be dangerous. Black is committing…

Annotated by ethansiegel (1767): This is a GREAT game played by Thomas (tag1153) against a much higher rated opponent. When he took a draw, he actually had winning chances earlier in the game, but, I think, was happy with such a result against such an awesome player. It just goes to show, every game of chess starts out the same, and anything can happen... Thomas always plays 1. …

Annotated by bakerbaker (1200): I am white in this gameknot mini-tournament. It shows how I didn't give up after losing a piece and ended up with a brilliant tactical attack. This move, and 1...c5 are the openings with the best reputations against e4. Still playable, but less common and slightly more passive are 1...e6 and 1...c6. The accurate move since I develop a piece while …

Annotated by ethansiegel (1767): When you're a higher-rated player playing a lower-rated one, there's the danger that you have the EXPECTATION you're going to win. In this game against tag1153, I played lazy and had a big disadvantage to overcome. The best hope was violent complications, which led to this interesting game... Thomas's usual. I like the QGD for black --…

Annotated by mossberg4570 (1996): This game illustrates a number of concepts in chess, including: A bad (passive) rook vs a good (active) rook. The weakness of a single bishop when pawns are on the same color. The power of a blockading knight. The centralization of the king. sovera played an unusual version of the sicilian, with the black pieces, in past games I went over, and I…

Annotated by ethansiegel (1767): This was the first game I ever played against my teammate alabamaboy at the Southern Chess Fall 2006 Invitational. Black plays the sicilian dragon, but underestimates the strength of the white pieces on the kingside. The important thing to remember when playing the sicilian is that black's major strength and source of counterplay will be on the…

Practice game with my coach
bakerbaker (1789) vs. Cyrus Lakdawala (My coach!) (2550)

Annotated by bakerbaker (1200): I was White in this game which is the first time I ever beat my coach. Although I cannot take full credit for beating a 2500, because he was playing about 30 other students at once, in an opening he doesn't normally play. My coach taught us the Center-Counter Defense that day, and was testing my knowledge of it, although he usually plays the…

Annotated by tag1153 (1478): Here's a game I recently completed vs dutch12. I believe that it shows how continued pressure against an enemy weakness can be exploited for a long time, allowing a slow moving, but steady attack against the isolated enemy king. Enjoy:) As usual, my standard. Nf6 is also very playable. Ive been playing around with this move, as it allows a…

Annotated by tag1153 (1478): Here is an interesting game vs. my good friend manhattan. An offbeat opening sequence leaves white with a developmental issue that black pounds on repeatedly, gaining enough of a material advantage to convert into the win. White plays a stubborn defense, and hangs in there until the bitter end with some tactical threats of his own. I hope you…

Annotated by tag1153 (1478): Here is one of my recent games vs. the very talented gibonacci. Black (me) makes a very stupid blunder on move #10 of this Scandanavian defense, and stands to get absolutely pulverized as a result of it. With a smashed kingside pawn structure and the enemy queen romping through his living room, black finds a very subtle, but deadly tactic…

Go! Greco Go!
Guicchino Greco (N/A) vs. NN (N/A)

Annotated by tomwhufc (1477): Gioachino Greco, also known as Il Calabrese, was born around 1600 in Celico, Italy near Cosenza in Calabria. In 1619, Greco started keeping a notebook of tactics and games, and he took up the custom of giving copies of his manuscripts to his wealthy patrons. In 1621 Greco took off to test himself against the rest of Europe, visiting Paris and…

Annotated by kingstuart (1269): Quite frankly this is one of the best games ever played, Kasparov once again plays a daring gambit in full knowledge Karpov and his seconds have had over a week to prepare for it. Kasparovs idea is so deep even Karpov underestimated the strength of it and is dragged into a position where his pieces are helpless due to a dominating knight on d3.…

Annotated by legspin (1918): Annotated by legspin - enjoy (I hope) Annotated by legspin. This is the first game I have annotated. I picked this one due to a rook sacrifice later in the game which I thought people may find interesting. I am not a grandmaster (or anywhere near), I have not memorised all openings. I do refer to a book for openings and I am not as good over…

Online G/10 tournament
bakerbaker (1776) vs. fathermcgree (1565)

Annotated by bakerbaker (1200): I was White in this game in an online tournament. I carefully maneuvered an attack against Black's frozen position, after sacrificing a piece. 1...c5 is the most common move against e4, because it leads to complicated imbalanced play, while 1...e5 simply matches me in the centre, while I have the tempo. I play King's Gambit a lot in short time…

Annotated by tag1153 (1478): Here is a game from our team mini that I just finished vs. my good friend and teammate remybear. In this Advance Variation of the French (achieved by an alternate move order), a very symmetrical middlegame is achieved by move 12. Black's mistaken 14th move is taken advantage of and punished severely. It turns out to be all white needs. I hope you…

Is development crucial?
Adolf Andersson (N/A) vs. Paul Morphy (N/A)

Annotated by tomwhufc (1477): This is one of my favourite of Morphy's games. It shows Morphy's positional and tactical genius. This was the standard opening move for the players of that time. Morphy sticks to his classical approach to chess. Always playing the King pawn openings when possible. The king's gambit. This opening was very popular in the 19th century. Although more …

"Don't Shoot the Piano Player"
Saviely Tartakower (?) vs. Max Euwe (?)

Annotated by tomwhufc (1477): I first saw this game on www.chessgames.com as it was game of the day sometime back and took a liking to it as I was studying the Guico Piano at the time.1.e4 The most common opening move and in my opinion the best as I have stated in most of the game that I have annotated.. However it's stats are falling because the surge of the sicilian…

A Danish Gambit Classic
Blackburne (?) vs. Day (?)

Annotated by tomwhufc (1477): This is a brilliant game which arises after a the wild Danish Gambit which is rapidly becoming a favourite of mine. 1.e4 The best opening move in my opinion. This was the most common opening move in the 19th century and still is today according to the GK Database. As Bobby Fischer once said "best by test." Another great exponent of 1.e4 was the…

Annotated by ethansiegel (1767): What do you do when you play a careless opening against someone rated 3-400 points lower than you? You almost lose, that's what! This was my first game against nicolso, who played a *much* stronger game than I expected... which should teach you to ever underestimate anyone across a chessboard! Observe... The most common response, but this is…

Annotated by insuk (1710): The always exciting Yugoslav Attack of the Sicilian Dragon defense, with a surprise resignation. The purpose of this annotation is not to explain the book moves...any book on Sicilian openings will do a much better job than I. I will note that this move indicates black's intentions to play the Dragon, which IMHO is the most logical way to…

Let's play chess
sadguy (1258) vs. tag1153 (1390)

Annotated by tag1153 (1478): Skittles game........Scandanavian Advance Variation. Logical. Black intends queenside activity. Offering a clean bishop exchange in preparation for 0-0. Black accepts the idea. ? Having already offered to trade light squared bishops, white renegs on the deal and chooses to move the bishop for a second time in a game only four moves old. Notice…

Annotated by exar (1504): Evan's gambit accepted. This game shows the danger of letting the center of the board be controlled by white. With accurate play, black can come out stronger, but not in this game. The more the end nears, the more complex the game becomes. Pay special attention to moves 17-21. I hope you enjoy. Hoping for 3..Nf6, so white could play 4.Ng5…

Annotated by tag1153 (1478): I include this game on my list simply because of the beautiful final position. An error by black leads to a very pretty Royal Fork mate. My standard. ? Very, very slow on my part. I have been playing around with variants of the QGD (my #1 weapon as white), and was curious to see where the game would go if black's light squared bishop could be…

Annotated by tag1153 (1478): prosperov2 - here you go:) Very solid and very popular. In the opening few moves, aim to establish a strong presence in the center of the board. Think of d4, d5, e4, and e5 as a big hill in the middle of a battlefield. Any general will tell you that it is imperative to control the "high ground". Scandanavian Defense. Black intends to rip open the…

Annotated by anotherminorpawn (1720): I played black and should have lost this game, but managed to come back despite a material disadvantage due to white's passive midgame play. A review of this game should show the dangers of underestimating an opponent by playing weakly. Please feel free to message me if you have comments, questions, or find any mistakes. The English opening is…

Sacrificing the whole box
slavia (1200) vs. Heinzkat (1200)

Annotated by heinzkat (2245): This game hasn't got any real properties to improve your chess. The entertaining value is very high though! The tactical motives aren't very usable, since normally those things just don't work. But this is one of those one-in-a-thousand games in which things actually work like you wanted them to work. It's nice to watch the motives, but it is…

"I aint rolling over and dieingbefore the next generation"
Emanuel Lasker (?) vs. Jose Raul Capablanca (?)

Annotated by tomwhufc (1477): This famous ecounter pitted the world champion Emauel Lasker against the sensational young Capablanca. Lasker proved that he wasn't yet ready to roll over and die before the next generation. Besides the historical significance of this game, this match is noteworthy for Laskers simple winning startegy, seemingly flowing right from the flowing.…

Botvinnik #3: This time a GM game!
Loek Van Wely (2680) vs. Jan Smeets (2540)

Annotated by raskerino (1760): Here's a very modern game (NED championship 2005) in the botvinnik. This is a completely wild line, and Van Wely made a nice find in it, though it's quite a subtle move. This game is significantly more complicated than the previous two games I showed in the botvinnik. Here's a very modern game (NED championship 2005) in the botvinnik. This is a …

Naval Intelligence ( Evan's Gambit)
Captain William Davies Evans (N/A) vs. Alexander MacDonnell (N/A)

Annotated by tomwhufc (1477): "William Davies Evans was born on Musland Farm, St. Dogwell's, North Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK. It was in 1824 whilst commanding a steam packet that sailed between Milford in Wales and Waterford in Ireland he invented the gambit for which he became famous. Its original form was 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.0-0 d6 5.b4. He also is credited for…

Annotated by alfredjwood (2157): I begin my annotation on move #31. Please go forward to move #30 and begin. Al I begin my annotation for the endgame on move 31. Please go forward to move #30 to reach the starting position, and then move forward. Al Observations: 1. Material is even. 2. Both kings are shut off…

Annotated by tag1153 (1478): Here is a recent league game I just completed. With the black pieces, I foolishly isolate my king with very little cover - throwing all of my resources towards a queenside attack. My opponent punishes me severely for this, and ultimately threatens mate in quick order. As I joked with him during the game, I was prepared to throw everything -…

Shirov #1: Shabalov Attack
Shirov (2720?) vs. Thorhallsson (2450)

Annotated by raskerino (1760): This game took place in Reykjavik in 1992 between the incredible attacker Shirov (who is Latvian like Tal! They've done a lot of analysis together) and a GM from Iceland. It features the Shabalov attack, which like the Botvinnik (see my previously analyzed games) is a fearless and wild way to try to storm the semi-slav. I will primarily try to…

Annotated by tag1153 (1478): Here is a really exciting game from the second round of the GameKnot #32 Advanced section. I have been playing in these site-wide tourneys for three years, and always in the Intermediate section. After the first round was completed, I was bumped up to the Advanced section because my rating had increased past the 1500 mark. I knew that I was going …

A night at the opera.
Paul Morphy (N/A) vs. Duke Karl / Count Isouard (N/A)

Annotated by tomwhufc (1477): This offhand game is one of the most instructive examples of how to develop rapidly and attack. It is what is called a 'consultation game' where one player( in this case Paul Morphy) plays against two opponents, who were allowed to confer with each other to decide which move to make. Apparently the Duke was criticised in the newspaper of the time …

Shirov #2: Muzio Gambit
Shirov (2700?) vs. Lapinski (?)

Annotated by raskerino (1760): There are a lot of old games that show a wonderful disdain for material. The old greats like Morphy and Anderson would give up any amount of material to open up files and bring all their pieces into the attack. This is a modern GM example of that method of play. This isn't meant to be an extensive analysis, I just want to show this delightful…

Shirov #3: "Two Queens beat a Full House"
Alexey Shirov (2700?) vs. Arnaud Hauchard (2500?)

Annotated by raskerino (1760): The title comes from chessgames. In an attack a pawn can do great things when it snakes it's way towards the enemy king, it can support key squares to help mate, it can even sneak through and queen: it can also do both. That's one half of Shirov's attack, but there's another part: pieces that flow towards the enemies king, heedless of losses. in …

Immortal Game
Adolf Anderssen (N/A) vs. Lionel Kierseritzky (N/A)

Annotated by tomwhufc (1477): I am sure many people have annotated this game on this site. I just thought I'd have a go at annotating the 'Immortal Game.' Hope you like this wonderful game. It shows the romantic spirit of the mid 1800s loved to attack first at the expence pf material. This is how the game should be played, when was the last game you can say you won a game…

Annotated by johnnyawesome (2256): This is the 'Advance Variation' and I feel the best weapon available to white. Nimzowitsch appreciated its potential, as did Mikhail Tal. I'm a fan also. The continuation with 3....Bf5 is still the most popular choice. I have however used Botvinnik-Carls gambit quite successfully with 3....c5, and it is now part my repetoire. The Kavalek…

Another Morphy Classic!
Louis Paulsen (?) vs. Paul Morphy (?)

Annotated by tomwhufc (1477): This is considered the main opening for the majority of GMs as White stakes out his claim to the centre. Black meets White's centralization of a pawn with one of his own A common move attacking the e5-pawn and d4-square The best way to protect the e5-pawn White opts to develop both knights before his bishops The Four Knights Opening theory has…

King in the middle
ionadowman (2000+) vs. ronald46 (1600+)

Annotated by ionadowman (2050): This is by way of practising an annotation, but the game does have its features of interest. After an eccentric line in the Queen's Knight Variation, Black gets his king stranded in the centre. Despite exchanges, White has enough to break through in the centre and, though failing to deliver mate, obtains a winning ending. The difference in…

Annotated by tag1153 (1478): Here is a recent skittles game which demonstrates the strength of connected passed pawns. Playing with the black pieces, I get into a position which is very cramped. My opponent, aaelarar, seems poised to use his advantage of having the bishop pair around move 18 to break into my defenses and cause me some pain. The only real advantage I have is…

The Wild West
Ion A. Dowman vs. P.H.

Annotated by ionadowman (2050): I've always had a fascination for what the pieces can do, so tactical melees are always fun to watch. They are even more fun - with nerves stretched to breaking point - to play. This short game was from a club tournament played in Wellington, 1980. With pieces flying all over the place, I still don't fully understand what went on! I have always …

"The Battle of Hastings"
Wilhelm Steinitz (?) vs. Curt von Bardeleben (?)

Annotated by tomwhufc (1477): This game is famous for the concluding combo and the report that Curt von Bardeleben didn't bother to resign but simply got up and walked away without a word..Sour grapes or what! He resigned later on that day! Steinitz was definitely past his best in 1895, but as he himself said, "I may be an old lion, but I can still bite someone's hand off if…

"Rubinstein's Immortal"
George Rotlewi (?) vs. Akiba Rubinstein (?)

Annotated by tomwhufc (1477): Rubinstein was no doubt a great artist of the endgame, however this game shows his talent in another field of chess brilliancy. In this game he unleashes an attack with a the fire and elegance of my fave player Morphy, and unfolds wonderful combos and brilliant sac's that would do honour to Tal, Alekhine maybe even Morphy!( And believe me I…

Annotated by ethansiegel (1767): Alright, folks, I know I haven't annotated a game in awhile, but I haven't had one very illustrative of any particular themes lately. Here is a game against my fellow Southern-Chess member Remybear, who always plays me tough. I bumble around and he gets a big advantage, but I throw everything into a big counterattack. The result is worth…

Running into a Stonewall
E.Horowitz (?) vs. Amateur (?)

Annotated by tomwhufc (1477): This is a notable game of the 'Stonewall Attack' where where white sets up his desired 'Stonewall' pattern in impeccable form. Without depending on any major blunders on black's part, the game develops into a smahing attack on black's castled king orchestrated by Horowitz. More common is 1.e4 Black replies symetrically also staking a claim for…

Demetrios Poliorketes
L.Szabo (GM) vs. C.H.Alexander (IM)

Annotated by ionadowman (2050): The son of Antigonos One-eye, a Successor to part of the Empire of Alexander the Great, became known to antiquity as "Poliorketes" - the Besieger. The game annotated here has the look of an attempted escalade of a city wall. You will see why as the game unfolds... Not your usual game this! The Staunton Gambit to the Dutch Defence. It can give …

Evans gambit
lamacuk (1657) vs. magicking (1862)

Annotated by lamacuk (1849): I have only recently started playing the Evans Gambit, but it has quickly become one of my favourite openings as i'm a bit of a risk taker and it compliments my style of play. Hope you enjoy the game :) d3 can be considered here, but where is the fun in that? i'll play b4 everytime :) This is the usuall reply. Black could decline the…

Annotated by lamacuk (1849): This game is by no means perfect with mistakes from both sides. If you like sacks then there's plenty of them here. This has to go down as one of the most enjoyable games i've played just because of the way it was won. It just shows that some sacks are sound and others are just plain lucky. I know nothing of the Silician and don't like playing…

Annotated by tomwhufc (1477): This games is from a mini-tourney I'm playing in. It will not really teach you how to defend, so if you wanted an instructive game that shows you good defensive technique then look away now. In this game you will see how not to defend against a powerful attack. Enjoy!.... For those of you who know me this is my norm, I almost never stray from this …

Amateur Dragon Series #9
heinzkat (2064) vs. scottyad (1937)

Annotated by scottyad (1311): I've been holding off on this one, but might as well give it a go. Black's attack never really gets off the ground (as he goes in for a dubious variation on the 20th move) and the position flirts with disaster for a long time and eventually he solves his immediate problems at the cost of simplifying into an excruciating endgame. White's handling…

Annotated by mirela22 (1761): This is the first time I annotate one of my games. I guess it might be an interesting game, at least for someone who's rating is lower than mine. It might as well sound ridiculous for a very experienced player. This game was part of a mini-tournament with the title: Play your favourite variation of the Sicilian Defense. I must not forget to say…

Suba Game #1
Raicevic (2416?) vs. Suba (2530?)

Annotated by raskerino (1760): GM Mihai Suba is an excellent GM who's played a lot of strange ideas, and frequently pulls out oddly spectacular victories. GM Mihai Suba is an excellent GM who's played a lot of strange ideas, and frequently pulls out oddly spectacular victories. In this game he takes black against GM Raicevic. He begins the game with a speculative gambit and …

Georgia State Championship (U1600 Rd 5)
Thomas G. (tag1153) (1402) vs. Jeffrey B. (1317)

Annotated by tag1153 (1478): Here is my final round game from the Georgia State Championship. I was sitting on 2 points going into it, and since I was already out of the money this game was just for pride. I arrived at the board 35 minutes late after spending an hour or so hanging out with a couple of buddies of mine (one is a Life Master and the other a Fide Master). I was…

Not quite a miniature...
I.A.Dowman (-) vs. M.Kopytko (-)

Annotated by ionadowman (2050): The annotated game by id=raskerino (Suba Game #2) reminded me of this game from the New Zealand Correspondence "Reserve" Championship, 1975-6. This game has the same moves as raskerino's until move 8. It, too, is a tactical melee, but is just too long to be called a "miniature". At this time something like 90% of my games as White began with…

Rublevsky Game #1 Dark Square Holes
Rublevsky (2680) vs. Volkov (2640)

Annotated by raskerino (1760): Rublevsky is a very powerful GM, but he has a very narrow (but well analyzed) opening repertiore. I've heard claims that this has stopped him from passing the 2700 mark, but I can't really say. The french defense, a favorite of Volkov. Rublevsky always chooses the tarrasch against the french. The most natural move is 3.Nc3, this move also…

A nice castling move...
Alexander Hoffmann (1200) vs. Alexander Petrov (1200)

Annotated by heinzkat (2245): This game contains a very nice, and most probably a deeply calculated, Queen sacrifice. Not performed by me, however, but by Alexander Petrov... I'm merely observing what is happening on the board. This game contains a very nice, and most probably a deeply calculated, Queen sacrifice. Not performed by me, however, but by Alexander Petrov... I'm…