Spending the holidays with some dear old chess friends

Editor’s note: The column below is a reprint of one that first ran in 2004.

It’s Christmas week, so we don’t plan any heavy lifting today. No breaking news, no cutting-edge opening theory, just a little quality time with some old, comfortable companions.

We start with the clever little six-move mate in today’s diagram by Swedish composer V. Ropke. Even the most eggnog-addled problem-hater should have no trouble solving this one. It’s so easy that we won’t even bother to publish the solution.

The holidays are a time to catch up with long-lost friends, and today’s oft-anthologized game definitely qualifies.

The great Dutch player Max Euwe, perhaps the nicest man ever to become world champion, may have lost more brilliant games than any other titleholder in history, a tribute in its way to his fighting spirit, dynamic style and lengthy career. But Euwe’s most galling defeat may have come at the hands of Slovenian great Milan Vidmar, in which Black has an unstoppable checkmate — if only his opponent would let him move.

This game, played at the fabled 1929 grandmaster event in the Czech resort town of Carlsbad, is full of neat tactical flourishes even before its famous finale. After 11. exf4 0-0!, 12. Bxg6 is met by 12…c4! 13. Nxc4 (Qxc4? d5 wins a piece for Black) d5 14. Nce5 fxg6 15. Nxg6 Rf6, with a complex middle game in prospect.

Both sides enjoy good attacking chances, but by 24. h3 Rac8 25. Rdd1 (Qxa7? Bxf3) Rc4, Black enjoys a clear initiative. But Euwe, believing he has a winning combination, overplays his hand and meets with a subtle but stunning refutation.

In mutual time pressure, Black’s 27…Qd4+ 28. Kh1 Qxd5?! (immensely seductive, but 28…Rc2 29. Ne4 Qxb2 was a better way to go) 29. Be4 Rxe4 30. Nxe4 Qxf5 31. Nxd6 Bxg2+! 32. Kxg2 Rc2+ 33. Kh1 Qc4 appears to settle the matter.

Black’s threatened mate on h2 seems completely unstoppable, but White’s spite checks, for once, contain real venom. Vidmar’s amazing escape comes on 34. Re8+ Bf8 (White had to see back on Move 29 that 34…Kh7 loses the rook to 35. Qd3+) 35. Rxf8+!! Kxf8 (forced, as 35…Kg7 36. Rxf7+ wins) 36. Nf5+ Kg8 37. Qf8+!!.

A second White major piece gives up its life on f8, but Black’s only choices are 37…Kxf8 38. Rd8 mate and 37…Kh7 38. Qg7 mate. Euwe resigned. The game won the tournament brilliancy prize — in a field that included former champion Jose Raoul Capablanca, Akiba Rubinstein, Efim Bogolyubov and tournament winner Aron Nimzovich.

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For our local readers, some real heavy lifting gets under way Wednesday with the start of the 44th annual Eastern Open, to be held at the Westin hotel in Tysons Corner. The seven-round Swiss event runs through Saturday and typically attracts a strong contingent of top players.

There is no charge to watch, and there should be plenty of skittles action and chess paraphernalia on sale. Check out EasternOpenChess.com for more information. We’ll have the winners and some games from the Eastern in upcoming columns.

Happy holidays to all, thanks for reading, and may your ratings elevate in 2-0-1-8!.

Vidmar-Euwe, Carlsbad 1929

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bg5 Bg7 4. Nbd2 c5 5. e3 b6 6. Bd3 Bb7 7. O-O h6 8. Bf4 d6 9. c3 Nh5 10. Qb3 Nxf4 11. exf4 O-O 12. Rad1 Nc6 13. Bb1 cxd4 14. cxd4 e6 15. Ne4 Ne7 16. Qa3 Nf5 17. Rd2 Qe7 18. Ng3 Nxg3 19. fxg3 Rfc8 20. g4 Rc7 21. f5 exf5 22. gxf5 g5 23. Re1 Qf6 24. h3 Rac8 25. Rdd1 Rc4 26. d5 a5 27. Nd2 Qd4+ 28. Kh1 Qxd5 29. Be4 Rxe4 30. Nxe4 Qxf5 31. Nxd6 Bxg2+ 32. Kxg2 Rc2+ 33. Kh1 Qf4 34. Re8+ Bf8 35. Rxf8+ Kxf8 36. Nf5+ Kg8 37. Qf8+ Black resigns.

• David R. Sands can be reached at 202/636-3178 or by email dsands@washingtontimes.com.