Game of the Week: Attacks Are Made to Be Pressed

[Event "New York Metropolitan tt"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1923.??.??"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Souweine, Arthur Jacob"]
[Black "Kupchik, Abraham"]
[Result "0-1"]

{While there is an impressive record for Abraham Kupchik in the annals (he apparently took second to Capablanca at Lake Hoptacong in 1926), little is to be found about Arthur Souweine. Based on the few references I could find, it appears that his peak may have been in the 1890s, and he never reached the caliber of someone like Kupchik. }

1. e4 e5 2. d4 Nf6 3. dxe5 Nxe4 4. Bc4
{A no-nonsense approach often focusing on development. Perhaps the thought is that black's N will be unable to hold its post, and therefore needs no "incentive." The current game, in which white seems to be the last advocate for the Romantic Era, is something different. }

4... c6 5. Bxf7+
{A far less speculative tactic than most bishop-takes-f7 slams. }

5... Kxf7 6. Qf3+ Nf6 7. exf6 Qxf6 8. Be3
{The queen exchange gains white nothing at this point, of course. }

8... d5 9. Qxf6+
{Neither is it particularly good here. 9 Nd2 keeps things moving for white. } ( 9. Nc3 Qxf3 10. Nxf3 Bb4 11. O-O Bxc3 12. bxc3 {has black lagging in development and quiets the position somewhat, but cripples white's queenside minority.} )

9... gxf6
{The right choice, despite the pawn dispersion it creates. Note how the current pawn structure, while full of holes, nonetheless severely restricts white's knights. The QN, for instance, cannot take up a useful post near the center in fewer than three moves, and a black pawn on f6 takes away both e5 and g5 from the KN. }

10. Nf3 Nd7
{10...Rg8 might be stronger here. }

11. O-O Nc5 12. Nbd2 Rg8 13. Kh1 Be7!
{An extremely instructive move. 13...Bd6 would have given this bishop more immediate scope, but left it awkwardly placed in the event of white's freeing thrust, c4. }

14. Rfd1
{With a later c4 in mind. Whether white's transfer of forces to the queenside while parrying kingside threats is wise remains to be seen. }

14... Bg4 15. h3 Bh5 16. c4 Rad8 17. cxd5
{While white's c4 thrust has come to naught, there's no need to do black's work for him. This move will get black's forces out in front of the pawns and ready for
action. }

17... Rxd5 18. Bxc5 Rxc5
{Again, an unnecessary simplification. Black's bishops will become very strong. Note that black's K has not been made to move a single time after the capture on f7 back at move 5.}

19. Rac1 Rd8 20. g4 Bg6 21. Re1 Bf8
{Threatening to come around the corner and target the Nd2.} ( 21... Rxc1 22. Rxc1 Bb4 23. Nf1 Be4 24. Kg2 Rd3 25. Ne3 {with some advantage to black.} )

22. Rxc5 Bxc5 23. Kg2 h5
{Computer analysis shows this position only slightly in black's favor. Given white's complete lack of play and black's marauding bishops, it's very nearly a win for black. }

24. Ne4 Bb4 25. Re3 hxg4 26. hxg4 Re8 27. Ng3 Rxe3 28. fxe3 Bb1
{The bishops, in textbook play, now come entirely into their own. }

29. a3 Bc5 30. e4 Ke6 31. Nd2
( 31. g5 fxg5 32. Nxg5+ Kf6 33. Nf3 {gives white a passed pawn and a little bit of play, but hardly enough. } )

31... Bc2 32. Nf5
{It is difficult to see the purpose of this otherwise natural-looking move, since black should be able to disrupt the linchpin of the position, the Nd2, without undue difficulty. }

32... Ke5 33. b4 Bf8 34. Kf3 Bd1+ 35. Kg3 b5 36. Ne3 Ba4 37. Nf5 c5
{There is no relief available. }

38. bxc5 Bxc5 39. Nb1 b4 40. axb4 Bxb4
{The Nb1 is immobilized!}

41. Ne3 Kxe4 42. Nc4 Kd4 43. Nba3
{Nca3 was better, but material will be lost in any event. }

43... Bb3 44. Nb5+ Kxc4 45. Nxa7 Ba4 46. Nc8
{Futility--had the N stayed at a7, ...Bd7 would have immobilized it. Now Bc5 does the same thing.}

46... Bc5
{Black can eliminate the N, trade pawns, then mate with the two bishops. A very complete victory. }

0-1