Sports Calendar

Arnold Denker, chess grandmaster, US champion 1944-46, was born on February 21, 1914. He died on January 2, 2005, aged 90.

GAME

HERE is Denker’s distinctively direct style in action. The émigré Russian grandmaster Lev Alburt remarked that Denker has been called “. . . the noblest Roman of them all. When he wins, as in the following game against one of the great players of the 20th century, he looks like a conquering Caesar crossing the Rubicon and pursuing poor Pompey.” The notes to the game are based on those by Denker himself.

White: Arnold Denker
Black: Reuben Fine

US Championship, Round 7, New York, 1944

This is the game to which I owe the title of US Champion. Fine and I were leading the tournament and, with Reshevsky out of the competition, Fine was the favourite. Hence this individual encounter was to be my great bid for the title. After dwelling for a long time on the possibilities, I concluded that my best weapon was surprise.

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 e3 b6 5 Bd3 Bb7 6 Nf3 Ne4 7 0-0
The first surprise!
7 . . . Nxc3 8 bxc3 Bxc3
If the bishop retreats, e3-e4 gives White an overwhelming position.
9 Rb1 Ba5

Fischer later championed Black’s defence with 4 . . . b6 and claimed here Black could refute White’s gambit with 9 . . . Nc6! However, it’s an unenviable task, and most masters have preferred to make a stand in other lines.

10 Ba3
10 e4 is tempting and perhaps just as good. But I saw clearer and more compelling lines after the text move. When playing under a time limit, it is wise to avoid vague generalities.

10 . . . d6 11 c5
Re-opening the diagonal which Black has attempted to close.

11 . . . 0-0 12 cxd6 cxd6 13 e4 Re8 14 e5 dxe5 15 Nxe5 Qg5

Fine suggested 15 . . . g6 as a possibly better alternative. I believe the move is refuted by 16 Bb5, eg, 15 . . . g6 16 Bb5 Qd5 17 f3 Bc6 18 Ng4 Qd8 19 d5 Bxb5 20 Rxb5 a6 21 dxe6 Qxd1 22 Nf6+Kh8 23 Rxd1 Rxe6 24 Rd8+ Kg7 25 Bb2 Rxf6 26 Rbd5 and Black is helpless. The magnitude of this line is enough to inspire a wholesome awe in the amateur; but the master does not see it from A to Z at once. He starts out with a position that his judgment tells him is good, and follows in natural sequence from A to B to C etc.

16 g3 g6 17 Qa4 Qd8 18 Rfc1 b5
Or 18 . . . Na6 19 Qxa5! bxa5 20 Rxb7 Qxd4 21 Bb2 Qd5 22 Bxa6 with three pieces plus a winning attack for the Queen.

19 Bxb5 Qd5 20 f3 Bb6

21 Rc5!

The quickest way to wind up the game.

21 . . . Bxc5 22 Bxc5 Rf8 23 Bc4! Bc6
(else the bishop is lost)
24 Bxd5 Bxa4 25 Bxa8 Black resigns.