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The Chessboard 07 Sep 1969, Sun Asbury Park Press (Asbury Park, New Jersey) Newspapers.com
The Chessboard: Title Play Revives Old Defense by Harry T. Conover
Those who keep a record of such matters say that when the Soviet grandmaster, Tigran Petrosian, revived Petroff's Defense in the 13th game of his match against Boris Spassky, it marked the first time this copycat defense had been played in a world title match in modern times.
Very likely they are right, for while the Petroff never has been refuted outright, it has so many shortcomings that at best Black can hope for little but a draw—usually not the goal of a world champion fighting to retain his title. Having achieved only a draw in the 13th game, Petrosian adopted the defense again in the 15th—and again the point was divided.
Petrosian's reason for choosing the uninspiring Petroff is these two games is a mystery which may be resolved in time. Whatever the motivation, however, his dusting off the ancient defense at least provoked a new look at it by the analysts. But it is doubtful that anything new can be found on either side of the board.
Beginners learn early that after 1. P-K4 P-K4; 2. N-KB3, the reply 2. … N-KB3 is one way to avoid the bind of the Ruy Lopez. They after 3. NxP P-Q3; 4. N-KB3 NxP; 5. P-Q4 P-Q4; 6. B-Q3 B-Q3, a nearly symmetrical position is reached in which Black largely has been copying the moves of the first player.
Much analysis has been lavished on Black's sixth move where he has the option of continuing B-Q3, B-K2 or B-KB4. On B-Q3, the American champion, Frank J. Marshall, built a boiling attack with which he won some pretty games, but which subsequently was refuted.
Thus, after 6. … B-Q3; 7. O-O O-O; 8. P-B4, Marshall played 8. … B-KN5, starting a kingside attack which ran afoul of the following refutation: 9. PxP P-KB4; 10. N-B3 N-Q2; 11. P-KR3 B-R4; 12. NxN PxN; 13. BxP N-B3; 14. B-B5! K-R; 15. P-KN4! NxQP; 16. B-K6 and White has a winning attack.
Avoiding well-worn lines, Spassky as White in the 13th title game played 6. Q-K2, but could achieve no better than a draw. Here is the score:
Boris Spassky vs Tigran V Petrosian
Petrosian - Spassky World Championship Match (1969), Moscow URS, rd 13, May-16
Russian Game: Cozio (Lasker) Attack (C42) 1/2-1/2
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6
This relic of the 19th century still has its adherents, but most players find its variations too sterile for both White and Black to merit adoption in serious competition. Perhaps Petrosian had a prepared line in mind, or used it for its shock value.
3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Qe2
Seen more often is 5. P-Q4 when there can follow. 5. … P-Q4; 6. B-Q3 B-Q3; 7. O-O O-O; 8. P-B4 P-QB3 (not 8. … B-KN5, when 9. PxP yields White the advantage); 9. R-K R-K; 10. N-B3 NxN; 11. RxRch QxR; 12. PxN B-KN5 leading to an equal game.
5. … Qe7 6. d3 Nf6 7. Bg5 Qxe2+
Black cannot avoid exchanging queens. For example, if 7. … B-K3; then 8. N-B3 QN-Q2; 9. O-O-O P-KR3; 10. B-R4 P-KN4; 11. B-N3 N-R4; 12. P-Q4 NxB; 13. RPxN and White has the advantage.
8. Bxe2 Be7 9. Nc3 c6
A playable alternative is 9. … P-KR3; 10. B-R4 B-Q2; 11. O-O-O N-B3; 12. P-Q4 O-O-O; 13. KR-K QR-K with eventual equality.
10. O-O-O Na6 11. Ne4
Threatening 12. BxN, when Black must disrupt his kingside with 12. … PxB or suffer the loss of the queen's pawn should he reply 12. … BxB.
11. … Nxe4 12. dxe4 Nc5 13. Rhe1
Indirectly protecting the king's pawn.
13. … Bxg5+ 14. Nxg5 Ke7 15. Nf3 Rd8
The early exchanges have left both players with little material to work with.
16. Nd4 g6 17. Bf1 Kf8 18. b4 Ne6 19. Nb3
White has gained a working edge, since his position is free while Black's is cramped and he has a number of weak spots in his pawn structure.
19. … b6 20. Re3 Bb7 21. a3 Rd7 22. g3 Re8
Position After Black's 23rd Move23. h4?
Throwing away his chances which lay in fixing the backward Black queen's pawn with, say, 23. P-QB4! and latter hammering away at it. Now Black will have little trouble in freeing his game, with a draw the likely outcome.
23. … Red8 24. Bc4?
There was still time for the restrictive P-QB4.
24. … Nc7 25. Rde1 Drawn
The logical result. Black now will open his game with P-Q4 and White's edge will vanish into the mist.
Asbury Park Press The Chessboard Sunday, September 07, 1969 Asbury Park, New Jersey Chess Problem No. 121 by J....
Posted by Bobby Fischer's True History on Tuesday, November 23, 2021
Chess Problem No. 121 by J. Hartong, 1st Prize, American Chess Bulletin, 1920. White mates in 2 moves.
FEN 8/1P6/8/1K2P3/5p2/R3qk2/5N2/2N2Q2 w - - 0 1
Key: N(1)-Q3 (1. Ncd3 Qxd3+ 2. Rxd3#)
Tournament Is Slated By Chess Group 11 Sep 1969, Thu Asbury Park Press (Asbury Park, New Jersey) Newspapers.com
