Game reviewed at the Dayton Chess Club on October 2nd, 2013.

White:  Nezhmetdinov

Black: Romanov  (1950)

Game commentary and analysis by:  M. Kellie

NOTE:  Rashid Nezhmetdinov is one of my favorite chess players because, he seemed to truly enjoy creating beautiful, amazing masterpieces.  He has many outstanding games and I recommend to any student, his games for study.

1.  e4                    c5

2.  Nf3                  Nc6

3.  d4                    cxd4

4.  Nxd4               Nf6

5.  Nc3                 d6          (Sicilian defense)

6.  Bc4                  e6

7.  a4                    Be7

8.  O-O                 O-O

9.  Be3                  Bd7

Position look:  So far so good, Black has played the “little center” Scheveningen defensive set-up.  White has several common branches here but in this game, chooses the “Classical” with the White bishop on c4 instead of f3 (Fischer’s motif).  So what is this great master up too?  Seems the idea is to utilize the bishop on c4…

10.  Ndb5            Ne5

11.  Be2               Bc6

12.  f4                   Ng6

13.  Bf3                Nh4

Position look:  White has moved directly back to a classical set-up while Black has begun working his pieces towards the enemy King!  So what idea or plan can White come up with here?  Students, please provide your ideas.

14.  g4!                Nxf3+

15.  Qxf3              a6

16.  Nd4               e5

17.  fxe5              dxe5

18.  Nf5                Nd7

19.  Rad1             Bg5

20.  b4                  Bxe3+

21.  Qxe3             b5

22.  a5                  Qc7

23.  Qg5               g6

24.  Ne7+             Kg7

Position look:  White is on the attack, close to the enemy King.  Students, how should White proceed?

25.  Rxd7!            Bxd7

26.  Qf6+             Kh6

27.  Rf5!!             Qa7+

28.  Kf1                Resigns

An amazing knock-out punch, 27.  Rf5!!…for there is no defense!  A brilliant set of ideas and, a brilliant game!