The joy of giving up two Rooks
By Kristianus Liem
JAKARTA (JP): Grandmaster John Emms of Beckenham, Kent, England, was the outright winner of the 1st Drury Lane Grandmasters, held in the heart of London's theaterland, at the Drury Lane Moat House, from June 16 to June 24. Turning in a rating performance of 2703, Emms outdistanced the category 10 (average rating 2485) field by a clear point and scored a devastating 4 points from 4 rounds with White.
For the completed results see the cross-table. Here is the brilliant game from the winner who sacrificed double Rooks.
After the game, Emms said, "My recent score against Aaron is not particularly fantastic, but as he gamely pointed out afterward, at least in my two wins I've had the pleasure of sacrificing three Rooks!".
White: GM John Emms Black: IM Aaron Summerscale Philidor Defense
1.e4 d6 2.d4 e5!?
An unusual method of reaching the Philidor Defense (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6). Black calculates that the disruption after 3.dxe5 dxe5 4.Qxd8+ Kxd8 will not be so severe. For instance, if 5.Bc4 f6 6.Be3 c6 7.Nd2 Nd7 8.0-0-0 Kc7 Black's position, while still a bit congested, looks quite playable.
3.Nf3 exd4 4.Nxd4 g6
A razor sharp system introduced by the Danish Grandmaster Bent Larsen in the late sixties. The position achieved looks very similar to the famous Yugoslav Attack, the only difference being Black attacks the semi-open e-file as opposed to the c-file. This small difference works in White's favor. For one thing, there are no nasty ...Rxc3 sacrifices to worry about.
5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Qd2 0-0 8.0-0 Re8
The other way to play for Black is 8...Nc6 After 9.f3 Nxd4 10.Bxd4 Be6 Black aims to counterattack with ...c5 and ...Qa5.
9.f3 Nc6 10.h4 Ne5 11.Bh6 Bh8 12.h5?!
The irritating 12.Bg5! would have caused Black more problems, threatening 13.h5 without sacrificing a pawn.
12...Nxh5!
To take or not to take? If 12...a6 13.hxg6 fxg6 14.Bg5 b5 Black will still have problems after 15.Qe1 followed by Qh4.
13.g4 Ng3 14.Rh3 Nxf1 15.Rxf1 c5! 16.Nf5!
Throwing more wood on to an already blazing fire. Black actually does well to ignore this Knight and continue with the counterattack. For 16 ... gxf5 17.gxf5 presents White with a devastating attack down the g-file.
16...Nc4 17.Qd3 Be6 18.Bf4
In the game Koronghy-Tornai, Hungary 1972, White won the game in spectacular fashion after 18.b3 Qa5? 19.bxc4 Bxc3 20.f4 Bxf5 21.gxf5 Bd4 22.fxg6 fxg6 23.f5 gxf5 24.Rg3+ Kh8 25.c3 Be5 26.Bg5 fxe4 27.Qxe4 Bxc3 28.Bf6+! Bxf6 29.Qxh7+! and mate in a few moves.
18...Qb6 19.b3 Ne5?
The losing move. After this White's Queen is free to join the h- file onslaught, so Black should play 19 ... Qb4! when after 20.Nh6+ Kf8 21.Bxd6+ Nxd6 22.Qxd6+ Re7 23.Nb1 Qa5 his position is fine.
20.Qd2 Bxf5 21.gxf5 Qb4?
See diagram. Falling for a devastating, if thematic, heavy piece sacrifice. However, if 21...h5 22.Rxh5! would lead to a powerful attack, which both players assessed as winning for White.
22.Rxh7! Kxh7
After 22...Nd3+ 23.Qxd3 Kxh7 24.fxg6+ fxg6 25.Rh1+ Kg8 26.Nb5 the threats of Bd2 and Qd5 are too much for Black to handle.
23.Rh1+ Kg8
Also doesn't help after 23...Kg7 24.Bxe5+ Rxe5 25.f6+! Kxf6 26.Qxd6+ Re6 27.Qf4+ Kg7 28.Qh6+.
24.Rxh8+! 1-0
Black resigned here. After 24...Kxh8 25.Bxe5+ Rxe5 26.Qh6+ Kg8 27.f6 and mate next move; or if 24...Kg7 there is the elegant 25.f6+! Kxf6 (25...Kxh8 26.Qh2+ Kg8 27.Qh6 and mate next move) and now White finishes off with 26.Qxd6+ Re6 27.Bxe5+ Kg5 28.Qd2#.