[chessmind] Dennis Monokroussos: This Week's ChessBase Show: Bagirov-Gufeld

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Posted by Dennis Monokroussos:
This Week's ChessBase Show: Bagirov-Gufeld
http://chessmind.powerblogs.com/posts/1187214517.shtml


   The late grandmaster Eduard Gufeld who a colorful, controversial
   figure in the chess world, but we'll ignore the controversy and focus
   on his chess. An inveterate popularizer of the royal game, Gufeld's
   writings often celebrated the spectacular aspects of the game -
   especially (but not only) when he was the source of the spectacle.
   This week, we'll take a look at his most famous game, the 1973 victory
   over Vladimir Bagirov he dubbed his "Mona Lisa". (Ironically, given
   Gufeld's penchant for publishing the game wherever possible, it's not
   in ChessBase's Mega database.) It's a real thriller, a King's Indian
   Saemisch played in the old style with opposite-side castling. In that
   interpretation of the Saemisch, White throws the kitchen sink at
   Black's king in the style of the Yugoslav Attack against the Dragon,
   while Black tries to hold off the attack while developing his
   queenside counterplay. That's just what we have in this game, which in
   the course of just 32 moves sees both players combining attack and
   defense with great imagination and a willingness to sacrifice
   material. (First Black sacs a piece, then White; Black sacs the
   exchange, then White offers a rook, which Black refuses by giving up
   another piece, etc.)
   In short, it's an entertaining and well-played game, one I'm confident
   you'll all enjoy. So join me this Thursday night at 9 p.m. ET: the
   show is free and the 150th audience member will receive a prize! If
   you've never tuned in before, you can find directions for watching the
   show [1]here.

References

   1. http://chessmind.powerblogs.com/posts/1114234449.shtml