SNC power play mirrors AVRO 1938 classic game

[Blockhead]

Messing around on SNC, as I sometimes do, I noticed cavallo presently highest rated player on SNC at 2518 (per new rating system). So I wondered if he'd been beaten recently and found his loss to savin (rated 2436).

Playing through the game at www.stansco.com/cgi-bin/nc_game.cgi?299378???small via SNC Java option I noticed, during the last moves, a key similarity to a much earlier GM game, a game accepted by many as one of the greatest games ever played - Capablanca v Botvinnik AVRO 1938. See chess.about.com/library/pal4/zbstches/blzbst33.htm

At move 45 savin calmly pointed out his winning strategy. He must have known then he might have to play 50. ... g4!) and he duly won! A formidable feat indeed!

What I find fascinating is that Botvinnik played the same move (40. ... g4!) to achieve the same end, to block the queen check, and prevent a perpetual check, and win the game!

Great game(s), great players!

[savin]

Blockhead,

Where were you when I needed you!!! LOL

I never thought to check through the game database!!!

I spent about 5-6 hours on that move alone analyzing how to play the end game. I think I spent a total of about 30 hours on the key 6-8 moves of that game. I could have saved my self hours by looking at the game database!!!

[bellesbabe]

Why do you need to look anywhere? Just play your OWN game.

[Blockhead]

bellesbabe,

I think you'll find savin's remarks relating to a search of the database said, tongue-in-cheek, I think! ;-)

savin,

I seem to remember someone posting the Botvinnik v Capablanca game here; they making a case that it 'the' best game ever. It had been many years since I last played through it but I enjoyed the refresher.

Botvinnik's double piece sacrifice against Capablanca staggering; but for me, the g4 move the best move of the game. It is so beautiful, so simple and direct, and yet, when teetering at the fringe of awareness, it might have be rather ephemeral (even for the late great Botvinnik!) it might not quite register on our chessic antenna.

Edison is reported to have said: "Genius is one per cent inspiration and ninety-nine per cent perspiration". Seems to me your comments, concerning the time you committed to crucial moves during the game, shows his words can also be applied to chessic ability at the highest levels to!

IMO your game with cavallo ranks with the very best played on SNC!

I'm sure Botvinnik would have been delighted with this game (and especially your g4!!) too ... Capablanca probably less so!

[Diet_Coke is better than chess]

bellesbabe said:

Why do you need to look anywhere? Just play your OWN game.

So I take it you don't use chess openings.