ICCF Game of the Month, May 2001

Game of the Month - May
by the 10th World Correspondence Champion Dr. Vytas (Victor) Palciauskas

Max Zavanelli and The Sleeping Beauty

No, this is not an adult story, and there will be no adult pictures. The types of stories you are imagining based on the title can be found elsewhere on the Internet. This is the ICCF Game of the Month column and this month we feature a unique win by Max Zavanelli (USA) over Jaromir Canibal (CZE) in the Reg Gillman Memorial Tournament E. It should be noted that Max has clinched first place in this section with an impressive 11-2 score with one game still remaining.

Max Zavanelli of the United States needs no introduction having worked tirelessly representing the USA to the ICCF for many years. He was a leading force in restoring organization and discipline to the previously chaotic situation US players faced for participating in ICCF tournaments. And for this we are indebted to him.

The Reg Gillman Memorial, Section E was a special section for his personal friends who are directors, organizers, officials. As Max notes about the tournament and game "It was a rare opportunity for me to play my friends. Among my 14 opponents, I had met and worked with all but two. This was my first tournament in many years. I had retired since 1994 (except for a two game team captain match where two draws were agreed amici sumus) because of overwhelming business commitments. I could not however refuse to play in my friend’s memorial tournament and with so many of my other friends. It was also a rare chance at an IM title and more importantly bragging rights.

He also reflects on his opponents in this game. "I knew my opponent Jaromir was not only a solid opponent, outspoken advocate of the rules, but also a strong advocate of sport and a good drinker. At the ICCF congress years ago in Norway, we nearly had an all out brawl in the bar when Jaromir was very loudly routing for Czechoslovakia to beat Norway in the Soccer Championships! We were lucky to get out in one piece!

The featured game is a classic: classic opening, swashbuckling attack and king hunt, and eventually a unique pawn march (actually an army of pawns) to victory. It is a type of game that one does not see very often in these days of fianchettos and hedgehog defenses. But, let the game speak for itself. And by the way, who is this sleeping beauty? The answer lies in the note to move eleven. The game annotations are by the winner.

Zavanelli, M. (USA) - Canibal, J. (CZE)

Reg Gillman memorial, Sec. E, 2000
Two Knights [C56]

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4

In our game, I open with my favorite Bishop's opening which I have been playing since I first learned chess. It leads to very exciting games.

2...Nf6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nf3 Nc6

Now black's 4. ...Nc6 takes the conservative route and declines the gambit of 4....Ne4 5. Qd4. He instead heads for the safety of the two knight's defense.

5.0-0 Nxe4 6.Re1 d5 7.Bxd5

This is one of the oldest variations in chess. For 25 years, I have played 7. Nc3 here instead which is the wild canal line which hangs both pieces under the theory that black can only capture one at a time. However, on the 1990 – 1994 era, I had lost my last 4 games with it and instead decided to play my "back up" line

7...Qxd5 8.Nc3 Qd8

The normal move here is Qa5. Qd8 has been considered solid, but more conservative. This move sets up a maneuver I use in my Canal variation. White normally replies 9. Nxe4. My 9. Rxe4+ is believed to be inferior. But we will completely change that assessment with this game.

9.Rxe4+ Be7 10.Nxd4 f5

Black's f5 is the recommended "bust" to 9.Rxe4+. But I can reach almost the identical position from the Canal variation and I have waited 20 years to play the next move! I originally played the Canal variation in 1975 against Bent Larsen in a live exhibition (human chess pieces) in Rockefeller Center at lunch time with 10,000 spectators give or take passersby. I was the New York City Commercial Chess League Champion and the Manhattan Chess Club Reserve Champion. Bent Larsen was at the time ranked second in the world behind Bobby and competing in one of the first World Opens. One of my pieces wandered off her square. At least that's my story and I am sticking to it. I met Bent again at the Argentina Congress a few years ago.

11.Bh6!!

The Sleeping Beauty in my home notes for 20 years. While writing up this game, to my disappointment I found two others have also played this move. White won both. Black has several other possibilities: Rg8, 0-0, gxh6. On 11...Rg8 12.Rf4 gxh6 13.Qh5+ Kf8 14.Rxf5+ Bxf5 15.Qf5+ Ke8 16.Ne6 Qc8 17. Nd5 Rg5 18.Ndc7+ Kd7 19. Rd1+ Bd6 20. Qd3 1-0 Oren-Mishnavevsky 1997 Sefer A.

11...fxe4 12.Bxg7 Rf8

in the CD of a gazillion games, I found the other game ever played in this line. 12...Nxd4 13.Qh5+ Kd7 14.Rd1 Rf8 15.Rxd4+ Bd6 16.Qxh7 Rf7 17.Qh3+ Kc6 18.Rc4+ Kb6 19.Nd5+ Ka6 20.Ra4+ Kb5 21.Qb3+ Kc6 22.Rc4+ Kd7 23.Qh3+ Ke8 been around the world! 24.Rxe4+ Be7 25.Qh5 Qxd5 26.Qxd5 1-0 A. Lolopis- V. Palau, 1988 correspondence.

13.Qh5+ Rf7

13...Kd7 14.Nxc6 bxc6 15.Nxe4 Qe8 (15...Bd6 16.Re1) 16.Rd1+ Bd6 17.Qg4+ Kd8 (17...Ke7 18.Qg5+ Ke6 19.Re1) 18.Qg5+ Qe7 19.Bxf8

14.Rd1! Bd7

Both 14....Qd6 and Bd6 fail as white gets a positional edge. Black's more radical try 14. .....Nb4!? leads to even more radical positions after 15. Nxe4 Qd5 16.Ndb5! (a lot of horseplay here) and every piece including white's queen, black's queen is in the breeze.

15.Nxc6 bxc6 16.Nxe4

This is the position I had prepared before the game with analysis. My plan was to win a third pawn for the rook and then march my king side pawns to glory. In 1977, I tied for first in the New York City Master's Championships with Anatoly Lein (then Soviet champion) with this same idea out of the Max Lange in a similar position.

16...Rb8 17.c4

to prevent Rb5

17...c5 18.Qxh7 Bf8 19.Re1!

Staying with the basic theme. Timing of the capture of the pawn at h7 must be carefully done so as not to lose the bishop at g7 to black's pin. Now black must sacrifice his queen

19...Qe7 20.Nf6+ Kd8 21.Rxe7 Rxe7 22.h4!

I now thought I would win this easily, but black now puts up stiff resistance sending us into deep tactics and miraculous moves yet to come.

22...Rxg7 23.Qh8 Ke7

Rf7 is very complicated but white wins after two pages of analysis!

24.Nd5+ Kd6

24...Ke8 25.h5

25.h5 Be6

The best move. If 25...Bh3 26.Nf4! (26.Ne3 Be6=) 26...Bf5 (26...Be6 27.h6 Rf7 28.Nxe6 Kxe6 29.h7 Rb6 30.f4 Bg7 31.Qxg7) 27.h6 Rf7 28.Qg8 Ke7 29.Nd5+ Ke8 30.g4 Be4 (30...Bh7 31.Qh8 will win by the slow death march of white's pawns) 31.f3! Bb1 (31...Bxd5 32.cxd5 Rxb2 33.h7+-) 32.g5 Bh7 33.Qh8 Kd8 34.g6 Bxg6 35.Qg8 Curtains!

26.h6 Rf7 27.f4 Kd7 28.h7

Passed pawns must be pushed. White has a draw with 28.Qe5 Bd6 29.Nf6+ Ke7 30.Nd5+

28...Rc8!

A superb defensive move.Other moves by black were losing. For example 28...Rg7 29.Nf6+ Ke7 30.Nh5 Rf7 31.Qg8; 28...Bxd5 29.cxd5 c4 30.d6!! Rg7 31.Qg8 Rxb2 32.g4+- etc.

29.f5 Bxd5 30.Qe5 Bd6

The h pawn lives a charmed life. Black could try 31....Re7 and white has 32. b4 with a lot of complications no fewer than those about to happen. Too many variations to bother to include.

31.Qxd5 Rff8 32.Qe6+ Kc6 33.g4 Rce8 34.Qh6

White must be careful as black has drawing lines if one misstep. For example 34.Qg6? Re1+ 35.Kg2 Rfe8 and if I queen, Black has a perpetual check

34...Kd7 35.f6 Be5 36.g5

Again I considered a check first (Qg7) but with so many complications, strategy must rule. (Push the ever loving pawn.)

36...Bxb2 37.Kf2 a6 38.Kf3 c6 39.Kg4 Bd4 40.Kf5 Bc3 41.Kg6 Kd6

Black must move his King as on 41...Bd4 there is the back door 42.Qh3+ Kd6 43.Qg3+ Kd7 (43...Be5 44.Qa3 Ra8 45.Qd3+ Bd4 46.Qg3+ Be5 47.Qe1 and we are back to the main variation) 44.Qa3 Ra8 45.Qh3+ Kd6 46.Qg3+ Kd7 47.Qe1 the threat all along 47...Rae8 48.Qa5 Ra8 49.Qb6 Kd6 (49...Rfb8 50.h8Q) 50.Qb7 Rae8 51.Qxa6 and now another footloose pawn is available. Anyway, that is the general idea for winning, and Black must be very careful to avoid the end around trick.

42.Qg7

We now decide to force black to put his pieces on worse squares by tempoing back and forth.

42...a5 43.Qh6 Be5

And now not 44.a4, which could be a draw, but instead the surprise

44.Kf5!

Exploiting the black bishop as a target. Now if 44.....Kd7 45. Qxf8!

44...Bd4 45.f7+

Discovered check. Also winning is 45.h8Q Rxh8 46.f7+ Kd7 47.fxe8Q+ Rxe8 48.g6

45...Kc7

45...Kd7 46.g6 Rb8 47.Ke4 followed by g7

46.g6 Kd7 47.Kg4!

47.Kg4 Re4+ 48.Kh3 Re3+ 49.Qxe3 Bxe3 50.g7 three pretty pawns in a pod.

1-0

A truly rare final position! When is the last time you have seen so many connected pawns on the sixth and seventh rank?

This article originally appeared at the Official ICCF Site.

Max Zavanelli and The Sleeping Beauty
No, this is not an adult story, and there will be no adult pictures. The types of stories you are imagining based on the title can be found elsewhere on the Internet. This is the ICCF Game of the Month column and this month we feature a unique win by Max Zavanelli (USA) over Jaromir Canibal (CZE) in the Reg Gillman Memorial Tournament E. It should be noted that Max has clinched first place in this section with an impressive 11-2 score with one game still remaining.

Max Zavanelli of the United States needs no introduction having worked tirelessly representing the USA to the ICCF for many years. He was a leading force in restoring organization and discipline to the previously chaotic situation US players faced for participating in ICCF tournaments. And for this we are indebted to him. The Reg Gillman Memorial, Section E was a special section for his personal friends who are directors, organizers, officials. As Max notes about the tournament and game "It was a rare opportunity for me to play my friends. Among my 14 opponents, I had met and worked with all but two. This was my first tournament in many years. I had retired since 1994 (except for a two game team captain match where two draws were agreed amici sumus) because of overwhelming business commitments. I could not however refuse to play in my friend’s memorial tournament and with so many of my other friends. It was also a rare chance at an IM title and more importantly bragging rights. He also reflects on his opponents in this game. "I knew my opponent Jaromir was not only a solid opponent, outspoken advocate of the rules, but also a strong advocate of sport and a good drinker. At the ICCF congress years ago in Norway, we nearly had an all out brawl in the bar when Jaromir was very loudly routing for Czechoslovakia to beat Norway in the Soccer Championships! We were lucky to get out in one piece! The featured game is a classic: classic opening, swashbuckling attack and king hunt, and eventually a unique pawn march (actually an army of pawns) to victory. It is a type of game that one does not see very often in these days of fianchettos and hedgehog defenses. But, let the game speak for itself. And by the way, who is this sleeping beauty? The answer lies in the note to move eleven. The game annotations are by the winner.

Zavanelli, M. (USA) - Canibal, J. (CZE)
Reg Gillman memorial, Sec. E, 2000 Two Knights [C56]

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4
In our game, I open with my favorite Bishop's opening which I have been playing since I first learned chess. It leads to very exciting games.
2...Nf6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nf3 Nc6
Now black's 4. ...Nc6 takes the conservative route and declines the gambit of 4....Ne4 5. Qd4. He instead heads for the safety of the two knight's defense.
5.0-0 Nxe4 6.Re1 d5 7.Bxd5
This is one of the oldest variations in chess. For 25 years, I have played 7. Nc3 here instead which is the wild canal line which hangs both pieces under the theory that black can only capture one at a time. However, on the 1990 – 1994 era, I had lost my last 4 games with it and instead decided to play my "back up" line
7...Qxd5 8.Nc3 Qd8
The normal move here is Qa5. Qd8 has been considered solid, but more conservative. This move sets up a maneuver I use in my Canal variation. White normally replies 9. Nxe4. My 9. Rxe4+ is believed to be inferior. But we will completely change that assessment with this game.
9.Rxe4+ Be7 10.Nxd4 f5
Black's f5 is the recommended "bust" to 9.Rxe4+. But I can reach almost the identical position from the Canal variation and I have waited 20 years to play the next move! I originally played the Canal variation in 1975 against Bent Larsen in a live exhibition (human chess pieces) in Rockefeller Center at lunch time with 10,000 spectators give or take passersby. I was the New York City Commercial Chess League Champion and the Manhattan Chess Club Reserve Champion. Bent Larsen was at the time ranked second in the world behind Bobby and competing in one of the first World Opens. One of my pieces wandered off her square. At least that's my story and I am sticking to it. I met Bent again at the Argentina Congress a few years ago.
11.Bh6!!

The Sleeping Beauty in my home notes for 20 years. While writing up this game, to my disappointment I found two others have also played this move. White won both. Black has several other possibilities: Rg8, 0-0, gxh6. On 11...Rg8 12.Rf4 gxh6 13.Qh5+ Kf8 14.Rxf5+ Bxf5 15.Qf5+ Ke8 16.Ne6 Qc8 17. Nd5 Rg5 18.Ndc7+ Kd7 19. Rd1+ Bd6 20. Qd3 1-0 Oren-Mishnavevsky 1997 Sefer A.
11...fxe4 12.Bxg7 Rf8
in the CD of a gazillion games, I found the other game ever played in this line. 12...Nxd4 13.Qh5+ Kd7 14.Rd1 Rf8 15.Rxd4+ Bd6 16.Qxh7 Rf7 17.Qh3+ Kc6 18.Rc4+ Kb6 19.Nd5+ Ka6 20.Ra4+ Kb5 21.Qb3+ Kc6 22.Rc4+ Kd7 23.Qh3+ Ke8 been around the world! 24.Rxe4+ Be7 25.Qh5 Qxd5 26.Qxd5 1-0 A. Lolopis- V. Palau, 1988 correspondence.
13.Qh5+ Rf7
13...Kd7 14.Nxc6 bxc6 15.Nxe4 Qe8 (15...Bd6 16.Re1) 16.Rd1+ Bd6 17.Qg4+ Kd8 (17...Ke7 18.Qg5+ Ke6 19.Re1) 18.Qg5+ Qe7 19.Bxf8
14.Rd1! Bd7
Both 14....Qd6 and Bd6 fail as white gets a positional edge. Black's more radical try 14. .....Nb4!? leads to even more radical positions after 15. Nxe4 Qd5 16.Ndb5! (a lot of horseplay here) and every piece including white's queen, black's queen is in the breeze.
15.Nxc6 bxc6 16.Nxe4
This is the position I had prepared before the game with analysis. My plan was to win a third pawn for the rook and then march my king side pawns to glory. In 1977, I tied for first in the New York City Master's Championships with Anatoly Lein (then Soviet champion) with this same idea out of the Max Lange in a similar position.
16...Rb8 17.c4
to prevent Rb5
17...c5 18.Qxh7 Bf8 19.Re1!

Staying with the basic theme. Timing of the capture of the pawn at h7 must be carefully done so as not to lose the bishop at g7 to black's pin. Now black must sacrifice his queen
19...Qe7 20.Nf6+ Kd8 21.Rxe7 Rxe7 22.h4!
I now thought I would win this easily, but black now puts up stiff resistance sending us into deep tactics and miraculous moves yet to come.
22...Rxg7 23.Qh8 Ke7
Rf7 is very complicated but white wins after two pages of analysis!
24.Nd5+ Kd6
24...Ke8 25.h5
25.h5 Be6
The best move. If 25...Bh3 26.Nf4! (26.Ne3 Be6=) 26...Bf5 (26...Be6 27.h6 Rf7 28.Nxe6 Kxe6 29.h7 Rb6 30.f4 Bg7 31.Qxg7) 27.h6 Rf7 28.Qg8 Ke7 29.Nd5+ Ke8 30.g4 Be4 (30...Bh7 31.Qh8 will win by the slow death march of white's pawns) 31.f3! Bb1 (31...Bxd5 32.cxd5 Rxb2 33.h7+-) 32.g5 Bh7 33.Qh8 Kd8 34.g6 Bxg6 35.Qg8 Curtains!
26.h6 Rf7 27.f4 Kd7 28.h7

Passed pawns must be pushed. White has a draw with 28.Qe5 Bd6 29.Nf6+ Ke7 30.Nd5+
28...Rc8!
A superb defensive move.Other moves by black were losing. For example 28...Rg7 29.Nf6+ Ke7 30.Nh5 Rf7 31.Qg8; 28...Bxd5 29.cxd5 c4 30.d6!! Rg7 31.Qg8 Rxb2 32.g4+- etc.
29.f5 Bxd5 30.Qe5 Bd6
The h pawn lives a charmed life. Black could try 31....Re7 and white has 32. b4 with a lot of complications no fewer than those about to happen. Too many variations to bother to include.
31.Qxd5 Rff8 32.Qe6+ Kc6 33.g4 Rce8 34.Qh6
White must be careful as black has drawing lines if one misstep. For example 34.Qg6? Re1+ 35.Kg2 Rfe8 and if I queen, Black has a perpetual check
34...Kd7 35.f6 Be5 36.g5
Again I considered a check first (Qg7) but with so many complications, strategy must rule. (Push the ever loving pawn.)
36...Bxb2 37.Kf2 a6 38.Kf3 c6 39.Kg4 Bd4 40.Kf5 Bc3 41.Kg6 Kd6
Black must move his King as on 41...Bd4 there is the back door 42.Qh3+ Kd6 43.Qg3+ Kd7 (43...Be5 44.Qa3 Ra8 45.Qd3+ Bd4 46.Qg3+ Be5 47.Qe1 and we are back to the main variation) 44.Qa3 Ra8 45.Qh3+ Kd6 46.Qg3+ Kd7 47.Qe1 the threat all along 47...Rae8 48.Qa5 Ra8 49.Qb6 Kd6 (49...Rfb8 50.h8Q) 50.Qb7 Rae8 51.Qxa6 and now another footloose pawn is available. Anyway, that is the general idea for winning, and Black must be very careful to avoid the end around trick.
42.Qg7
We now decide to force black to put his pieces on worse squares by tempoing back and forth.
42...a5 43.Qh6 Be5
And now not 44.a4, which could be a draw, but instead the surprise
44.Kf5!

Exploiting the black bishop as a target. Now if 44.....Kd7 45. Qxf8!
44...Bd4 45.f7+
Discovered check. Also winning is 45.h8Q Rxh8 46.f7+ Kd7 47.fxe8Q+ Rxe8 48.g6
45...Kc7
45...Kd7 46.g6 Rb8 47.Ke4 followed by g7
46.g6 Kd7 47.Kg4!

47.Kg4 Re4+ 48.Kh3 Re3+ 49.Qxe3 Bxe3 50.g7 three pretty pawns in a pod.
1-0
A truly rare final position! When is the last time you have seen so many connected pawns on the sixth and seventh rank? This article originally appeared at the Official ICCF Site.