The Star E-dition

CHESS BY VICTOR STRUGO

I recently published the only ever win by a South African (Donald Macfarlane) against a future world champion (Vishy Anand). Here is the only win by a South African against a former titleholder. In 1955, Dr Max Euwe (world champion from 1935-1937) toured South Africa. He played a tourney against our top players and gave simuls across the country, including one in Joburg on 12th August 1955. One of the contenders, aged 16 at the time, was Eddie Price who died earlier this year after priceless (pun intended) contributions to chess competition, lore, administration, unification – and friendships.

Eddie’s daughter Debbie thankfully uncovered this lost game score beneath piles of papers in Eddie’s study. The game has quality and sufficient historical interest to have appeared with my notes, in the second instalment of Darryl Accone’s heartfelt tribute to the wonderful man in this month’s Chess magazine in the UK.

Dr M Euwe – H E Price (Nimzo-indian Defence): 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4 Qc2 d5 5 cxd5 exd5 6 Bg5 Nc6 7 e3 Qe7 (The natural... 0-0 is better)

8 O-O-O Bxc3 9 Qxc3 Ne4 10 Bxe7 Nxc3 11 bxc3 Nxe7 12 Ne2 O-O 13 Nf4 Bf5 14 f3 Rab8 15 g4 Bd7 16 h4 b5 (Black chooses active play at the cost of weakening c5) 17 Nd3 a5 18 a3? Nc6? (Better 18

... Nc8! heading for c4) 19 Nc5 Bc8 20 Kc2 Nd8 21 Rb1 c6 22 Bd3? (Fast-paced simuls predispose to shallow assessment. 22 a4! b4 23 cxb4 axb4 24

Bd3 Ne6 25 Nb3 tightens White’s grip) 22 ... Ne6 23 a4 Nxc5 24 dxc5 Bd7 (Here Euwe refused a cheeky schoolboy draw offer) 25 Be2 Rfe8 26 Kd3? f5! (Although snubbed, Eddie alertly pounces on the error of not playing 26 Kd2! The h7-b1 diagonal is vulnerable! 27 g5? f4! 28 e4 dxe4+ 29 fxe4 (Now it was Euwe’s turn to offer a draw – and Eddie’s turn to refuse!) 29 ... Rbd8! (Black is winning material and opening attacking lines) 30 Kc2 Rxe4 31 Bd3 Rxa4 32 Rhd1 Ra2+ 33 Rb2 (Also losing were 33 Kb3 Be6+ and 33 Kc1 f3!) 33 ... Rxb2+ 34 Kxb2 Rf8 35 Bxb5 Rb8 36 Rxd7 Rxb5+ 37 Kc2 Rxc5 38 Kd3? Rd5+ and Euwe resigned, graciously praising his young opponent’s mature temperament and particularly his 29th move.

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I welcome comments, games and news at victor.strugo@gmail.com. Find local news at www.chesshub.org.za and facebook.com/ SACHESSPLAYERS.

Black to move. White has just played 1 f3 attacking two of your pieces. What’s your reply?

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2022-09-24T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-09-24T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://thestar.pressreader.com/article/282394108315829

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