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Chess 05 Jan 1969, Sun The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts) Newspapers.com
Chess: Sedentary Game? by Harold Dondis
“The Chess Sacrifice” by Vladimir Vukovic, published in this country in 1968 by David McKay Co. will, we predict, be one of the classic books on chess.
As its title indicates, it is dedicated solely to the sacrificial combination, and page follows page in a spindrift of beautiful moves that are hard to believe. Vukovic feels that sacrificial play is still vital in modern chess.
Botvinnik has stated that a combination is a maneuver with sacrifice, which violates the customary value put on pieces. Put more graphically by Vukovic, it is Hort falling off his chair at Oberhausen, as he did when Paul Keres sacrificed a Queen against him.
Vukovic gives a remarkably detailed dissection of the sacrifice. He says sacrifices can be classified as artistic, depending on the degree of knowledge one has of the game.
Vukovic traces through the functional elements in the sacrifice — the double attacks, the threats, opening of lines and even obstructions.
Here is one, for example which lingers fondly from Fischer-Benko, New York, 1963.
Fischer as white wants to play P-K5, but Benko, black has the resource P-KB4. Fischer blacks out P-KB4 with the remarkable 1. R-B6! K-N1; 2. P-K5 P-KR3; 3. N-K2 resigns.
Vukovic analyzes sacrifices from the standpoint of material sacrificed — including double Rook sacs, double Bishop sacs and the classical Bishop sacrifice. There are typical sacrifices against castled positions and sacrifices to prevent castling. Vukovic even adds sacrifices on specific squares.
Vukovic says that a master of sacrifice such as Tahl, sacrifices in such a way to make calculations relatively easy for him while his opponent is forced to compute himself into time pressure. The sacrificer accepts risks, often to put intolerable pressure on an opponent who does not like to defend or to undergo a kind of shock.
Lastly, says Vukovic, there can be misfortune in sacrifice — unexpected counter combinations that prevent the knockout.
Actually sacrifice in over-the-board play is extremely difficult, for the player must either calculate with great exactitude or accept a risk that most mortals will not put up with.
Here is another from Vukovich's collection of gems, Lasker-Euwe, Nothingham, 1936. This combination is deceptively simple, but who would see it in over-the-board play?
Lasker (White) To Play
1. P-QN4! 2. N-B2 wins a piece and the game.
