Ok, so week three was a bust… No, I am not going to skip annotating it; but, since I was on vacation in week two… and, therefore, missed Boston’s 3.5-0.5 win over the Carolina Cobras… and since a most amazing and beautiful game was played on third board… I just thought I’d cheer myself up with a quick and dirty presentation of a throwback game if ever there was one.

Now, most of you youngsters don’t know what the Wayback machine is… It’s a cartoon invention belonging to Mr. Peabody (a dog) and his boy Sherman (a boy) and was a regular feature in the Rocky and Bullwinkle series. In it, Mr. Peabody took Sherman “way back” in time to teach him history and general life lessons. Of course, Dogs don’t really talk and such machines don’t really exist… do they? Well, I don’t know… maybe. You be the judge as Marc Esserman takes us Way, Way Back… to the romantic chess days of yore, back to the era of Anderson and Morphy, and gives Mr. Simpson and us all a lesson in chess history and how to punish your opponent with a flair.

SM Marc Esserman (BOS) – FM Ron Simpson (CAR)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0–0 b5

Usually just a transposing move into one of the main lines after the Bishop retreats and Black plays …Be7. Just another boring Spanish game. Considering the course of this game, maybe now was the time for Black to play the Open Ruy with [5...Nxe4 6.Re1 Nc5 7.Bxc6 dxc6 8.Nxe5 Be7] Was this his intent and he just accidentally drove the Bishop first? Only FM Simpson knows.

6.Bb3 Nxe4?!

A dangerous (for Black), but playable move, which hands White a strong advantage.

Earlier in the week I was showing this game to people at the club. The typical response was “Oh, yeah. Black fell into a trap.” Well, it is worth mentioning that, although this variation is not the best, Emanuel Lasker lost as White to Arthur Sounweine in 1893; however, this was in no way due to the opening. And again, in 1925 he faced Merkl (Black) and could only draw. Yes, this opening has been played even against the likes of Alekhine, who of course defeated it soundly. So, where is the trap? Let’s try to find one…

7.Re1 d5 8.Nc3!?…

I like this move… it has a certain romantic nature, and has been played before, as early as 1939. The games in my database give an even record 2 wins 2 losses and a handful of draws, even a postal game is included. Fritz gives White about a +.63 advantage… no big deal in a Ruy… right?
More prosaic is the simple… [8.d3 Nf6 9.Nxe5 Nxe5 10.Rxe5+ Be6 11.Bg5 c6] and Fritz calls it equal. Marc goes for the knockout… always.

8…Nxc3 9.dxc3…

Hmmm! Which center pawn would you defend, and how?

9… Be6

Black chooses correctly. The d-pawn is vital and gives him a safe looking position.

10.a4!…

But, no! Take my pawn back?… Hah!

Now, I can recommend two games here. Green,Wesley – Crowe, Peter correspondence 1987 contiued 10…e4 11.Ng5 Rb8 12.Nxe6 fxe 13.Qh5+ g3 14.Qh3… ending in a well fought draw on move 34. One other game was Poulsen, Christian – Apsheneek, Fricis 1934 ended in a much simpler 48 move draw after 10…Ne7 11.Nxe5 c5 12.Bg5 c4

Instead, FM Simpson responded less accurately…

10…Rb8?

Here I let Fritz run a while and it really didn’t see Marc’s combination coming. Maybe I need an upgrade.

11.axb5 axb5 12.Ra6 Qd7

Oh! Now Fritz sees it… do you?

13.Rxc6! Qxc6 14.Nxe5 Qc5

Believe it, or not, this has all been played before in Anderson – Olsen, Glostrup, 1934. This game continued…
15. Qf3 Be7 16. Be3 Qd6 17. Bf4 O-O 18. Nxf7 Qa6 19. Nh6+ gxh6 20. Qg3+ Kh8 21. Bxh6 Rf7 22. Qe5+ Bf6 23. Qxe6 Qxe6 24. Rxe6 Re7 25. Rxe7 Bxe7 26. Bxd5 1-0
White is the exchange down but has the two bishops and three pawns for it.

I’m thinking Marc knew this position… either that or he is a genius… as he makes short work of his opponent after the following fabulous combination.

15.Nxf7!!…

Take that Morphy! Wow, you don’t often see these beautiful romantic moves these days in what must still be called the opening.

15…Kxf7 16.Qf3+ Ke7 17.Bxd5 Rb6 18.Bg5+ Kd7 19.Bxe6+ Rxe6 20.Qf7+ Re7 21.Bxe7 Bxe7 22.Qe6+ Black resigns 1–0

White will win Black’s Rook after 22… Kd8 23.Ra1 c6 24.Ra8+… etc…

When I first saw this game shortly after the match, I thought it was simply magic… just beautiful. Is it an opening trap? Well… it is now. One thing I know for sure… It was a great ride on the Wayback Machine… a really great ride.