Rubinstein won only two games in this tournament (this one and against Tarrasch), but both of them won the brilliancy prize. The one I present and analyze in this article features the Zepler doubling pattern as well.
Variants
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Rifle Chess: Modern warfare with distance captures
Rifle Chess, also known as Shoot Chess and Shooting Chess, was invented by W. B. Seabrook in 1921. This man noted that the origin of chess coincided with a time when warfare emulated close combat. However, with the advent of firearms, the nature of warfare experienced a profound transformation.
Tactical Tips
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Overextended Pawns: How to punish reckless advances
In essence, an advanced pawn can at times be stretched too far, resembling a troublesome presence for the opponent. Nevertheless, pushing the pawn forward hastily without reason amounts to an unwise overextension. Distinguishing between these scenarios falls to the discernment of a skilled player.
Full Game Analysis
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Efim Bogoljubov vs. Alexander Alekhine: Triple queen sacrifice
The game (played at the mentioned tournament) I selected for today’s article was remarkable in several points: 1) No pawns were captured until the 24. move. 2) Alekhine applied The Octopus Knight formation to get to the winning position. 3) Black sacrificed a queen three times.
Opening Theory
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Learn to play Van Geet Opening: Win by waiting
Let’s begin the year by discussing an uncommon opening that actually goes by many alternative names. My favorite calling is the Van Geet Opening.
Curiosities
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Half-pin: Pinned and x-rayed
The half-pin, a concept dating back to the 19th century, remains a persistent problem in chess. The basic concept can be seen in real games as well.
Variants
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Ghostrider Chess: The power of invisible knights
Ghostrider Chess, an intriguing variant devised by Ralph Betza in 1978, has piqued my interest due to its suitability for a game server implementation. This captivating game is played on a traditional 8×8 chessboard, utilizing standard pieces, with the exception of the knights.
Tactical Tips
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King Walk: The wandering monarch
A king walk, which is also referred to as a king march, steel king, or wandering king, involves an intriguing maneuver wherein the king embarks on a significant journey to a distant part of the board during the middlegame or opening phases of the game.
Full Game Analysis
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Harry Nelson Pillsbury vs Emanuel Lasker: Get my rook. Twice.
In the 1896 tournament held in Saint Petersburg, there was a game played that showcased Emanuel Lasker’s brilliance. He earned the brilliancy prize by executing a remarkable move: sacrificing both of his rooks on the same square to expose Pillsbury’s king.
Curiosities
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Seriesmover: The victorious sequence
A seriesmover refers to a chess problem where one side executes a consecutive sequence of valid moves without any response from the opposing side. The sequence culminates with the other side performing a single move that results in either a checkmate or a stalemate, depending on the specific conditions given in the problem.