[blind-chess] Annotated Game #075: Ernst Gruenfeld - Efim Bogoljubow, Vienna 1922
- From: "Roderick Macdonald" <rjmacdonald@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "Blind-Chess Mailing List" <blind-chess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 22 Jan 2012 17:49:53 -1000
Annotated Game #075:
Ernst Gruenfeld - Efim Bogoljubow, Vienna 1922
Adapted and Condensed from
Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia
Contents:
++1. Ernst Franz Gruenfeld
++1.A Life and career
++1.B Playing style
++1.C Writings
++2. Efim Dmitriyevich Bogoljubow
++2.A Early career
++2.B World War I: interned in Germany
++2.C Top Grandmaster
++2.D Decline
++2.E Quotation
++3. Ernst Gruenfeld - Efim Bogoljubow, Vienna 1922
++1. Ernst Franz Gruenfeld
Ernst Franz Gruenfeld (November 21, 1893 - April 3, 1962), an
Austrian chess player and writer specializing in opening theory,
was for a brief period after the First World War one of the
strongest chess players in the world.
++1.A Life and career
Born in Vienna, Gruenfeld lost a leg in an early childhood which
was beset by poverty. However, he discovered chess, studied
intensely, and quickly earned a reputation as a skilled player at
the local chess club, the Wiener Schach-Klub.
The First World War (1914-1918) seriously affected Gruenfeld's
chances of playing the best in the world as few tournaments were
played during this troubled period. He was reduced to playing
correspondence matches and spent much of his spare time studying
opening variations. He started a library of chess material which he
kept in his small Viennese flat until his death at the age of 68 in
1962.
He developed a reputation as an expert on openings during the 1920s
and success over the board soon followed. He was 1st= in Vienna
(1920) with Saviely Tartakower; 1st in Margate (1923); 1st in Meran
(1924); 1st in Budapest (1926) with Mario Monticelli; 1st in Vienna
(1927) and he shared first spot in the Vienna tournaments of 1928
and 1933 (Trebitsch Memorial) -- the former with Sandor Takacs and
the latter with Hans Mueller; and finally he was 1st in the
tournament at Ostrava of 1933. He also won in the 23rd DSB Congress
at Frankfurt 1923.
During the Bad Pistyan (Piestany) tournament of April 1922
Gruenfeld introduced his most important contribution to opening
theory - the Gruenfeld Defense. He played the defense against
Friedrich Saemisch in round 7, drawing in 22 moves, and later that
year he used it successfully against Alexander Alekhine in the
Vienna tournament. However, he did not play the opening frequently.
During the late 1920s and 1930s Gruenfeld played top board for
Austria in four Chess Olympiads (1927, 1931, 1933, 1935), and his
best year was in 1927 when he scored 9.5/12. According to the
Chessmetrics website he would have been rated around 2715 at his
peak (December 1924).
In May 1943, he took 2nd, behind Paul Keres, in Posen, and won in
December 1943 in Vienna. After the Second World War, he tied for
3rd-4th at Vienna 1951 (Schlechter Memorial, Moshe Czerniak won).
Gruenfeld became an International Grandmaster in 1950. By the late
1950s he was playing very little chess and he mainly worked on his
prodigious library which by now had completely filled the living
room in his flat which he shared with his wife and daughter. His
last tournament was Beverwijk (Hoogovens) in 1961, where in a field
with five more strong grandmasters, he finished with a score of 3/9
(with only one win, against Jan Hein Donner).
He died in Vienna of obesity on April 3, 1962.
++1.B Playing style
He reputedly modeled his style of play on Akiba Rubinstein's and
only played 1. d4, claiming that he did not make mistakes in the
opening. However, his style of avoiding complex variations together
with an essentially drawish nature was simply not good enough to
trouble the world's best. He is best remembered for his eponymous
defense, the Gruenfeld Defense (1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5) and
for his general expertise in the opening.
++1.C Writings
Ernst Gruenfeld contributed many articles on openings to chess
magazines around Europe. Indeed, before he had turned 20, he was
already contributing articles on the Ruy Lopez to his local chess
magazine, the Wiener Schachzeitung, and over the next 40 years or
so he wrote many articles on opening theory for chess publications
in Germany, Belgium, and the USSR. His favorite market was in
Bulgaria though because they used to pay for his work in food
rather than in money!
He published several books which were generally well received and
he contributed to a seminal account of the Teplice tournament of
1922. Other publications include The Queen's Pawn Game and the
Queen's Gambit Declined (1924) and Taschenbuch der Eroffnungen im
Schach (1953).
++2. Efim Dmitriyevich Bogoljubow
Efim Dmitriyevich Bogoljubow (April 14, 1889 - June 18, 1952) was
a Russo-German chess grandmaster who won numerous events and played
two matches with Alexander Alekhine for the world championship.
++2.A Early career
In 1911, Bogoljubow tied for first place in the Kiev championships,
and for 9-10th in the Saint Petersburg (All-Russian Amateur)
Tournament, won by Stepan Levitsky. In 1912, he took second place,
behind Karel Hromadka, in Vilna (Vilnius) (Hauptturnier). In 1913-
1914, he finished eighth in Saint Petersburg (All Russian Masters'
Tournament - eighth Russian championship; Alekhine and Aron
Nimzowitsch came joint first).
++2.B World War I: interned in Germany
In July-August 1914, he played in Mannheim tournament (the 19th DSB
Congress), and tied for 8-9th in that event, which was interrupted
by World War I. After the declaration of war against Russia, eleven
"Russian players" (Alekhine, Bogoljubow, Fedor Bogatyrchuk,
Alexander Flamberg, N. Koppelman, Boris Maliutin, Ilya Rabinovich,
Peter Romanovsky, Peter Petrovich Saburov, Alexey Selezniev, Samuil
Weinstein) from the Mannheim tournament were interned by Germany.
In September 1914, four of the internees (Alekhine, Bogatyrchuk,
Saburov, and Koppelman) were allowed to return home via
Switzerland. The remaining Russian internees played eight
tournaments, the first held in Baden-Baden (1914) and all the
others in Triberg (1914-1917). Bogoljubow took second place, behind
Alexander Flamberg, in Baden-Baden, and won five times in the
Triberg chess tournament (1914-1916). During World War I, he stayed
in Triberg im Schwarzwald, married a local woman and spent the rest
of his life in Germany.
++2.C Top Grandmaster
After the war, he won many international tournaments; at Berlin
1919, Stockholm 1919, Stockholm 1920, Kiel 1921, and Pistyan
(Piestany) 1922. He tied for 1st-3rd at Karlsbad (Karlovy Vary)
1923.
In 1924, Bogoljubow briefly returned to Russia, which had since
become the Soviet Union, and won consecutive Soviet championships
in 1924 and 1925. He also won at Breslau (Wroclaw) 1925, and in the
Moscow 1925 chess tournament (it), ahead of a field which included
Emanuel Lasker and Jose Raul Capablanca.
In 1926, he emigrated to Germany. He won, ahead of Akiba Rubinstein
that year at Berlin. At Kissingen 1928, he triumphed (+6 -1 =4)
over a field which included Capablanca, Nimzowitsch and Savielly
Tartakower, et al. Bogoljubow won two matches against Max Euwe
(both 5.5-4.5) in 1928 and 1928-1929 in Holland. He played matches
for the World Chess Championship twice against Alekhine, losing
15.5-9.5 in 1929, and 15.5-10.5 in 1934.
He represented Germany at first board in the 4th Chess Olympiad at
Prague 1931, winning the individual silver medal (+9 -1 =7).
In 1930, he twice tied for 2nd-3rd with Nimzowitsch, after
Alekhine, in Sanremo, then with Gvsta Stoltz, behind Isaac Kashdan,
in Stockholm. In 1931, he tied for 1st-2nd in Swinemuende (27th DSB
Congress). In 1933, he won in Bad Pyrmont (1st GER-ch). In 1935, he
won at Bad Nauheim, and Bad Saarow. He tied for 1st-2nd at Berlin
1935, Bad Elster 1936, Bad Elster 1937. Bogoljubow won at Bremen
1937, Bad Elster 1938, and Stuttgart 1939 (the 1st Europaturnier).
++2.D Decline
During World War II, he lost a match to Euwe (+2 -5 =3) at Krefeld
1941, and drew a mini-match with Alekhine (+1 -1 =0) at Warsaw
1943. He also played in numerous tournaments held in Germany and
General Government throughout the war. In 1940, he won in Berlin,
and tied for 1st-2nd with Anton Kohler in Krakaw/Krynica/Warsaw
(the 1st GG-ch). In 1941, he took 4th in Munich (the 2nd
Europaturnier; Stoltz won), and took 3rd, behind Alekhine and Paul
Felix Schmidt, in Kraksw/Warsaw (the 2nd GG-ch). In 1942, he took
5th in Salzburg Grandmasters' tournament (Alekhine won), tied for
3rd-5th in Munich (1st European Championship - Europameisterschaft;
Alekhine won), took 3rd in Warsaw/Lublin/Kraksw (the 3rd GG-ch;
Alekhine won). In 1943, he took 4th in Salzburg (Paul Keres and
Alekhine won), and tied for 2nd-3rd in Krynica (the 4th GG-ch;
Josef Lokvenc won). In 1944, he won, ahead of Fedor Bogatyrchuk, in
Radom (the 5th GG-ch).
After the war, he lived in West Germany. In 1947, he won in
Lueneburg, and Kassel. In 1949 he won in Bad Pyrmont (3rd West GER-
ch), and tied for 1st-2nd with Elmars Zemgalis in Oldenburg. In
1951 he won in Augsburg, and Saarbruecken.
He was awarded the title International Grandmaster by the World
Chess Federation (FIDE) in 1951.
The Bogo-Indian Defence chess opening (1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3
Bb4+) is named after Bogolyubov.
++2.E Quotation
"When I am White I win because I am White. When I am Black I win
because I am Bogolyubov."
("Bogolyubov" means "beloved of God" in Russian.)
++3. Ernst Gruenfeld - Efim Bogoljubow, Vienna 1922
Vienna 1922
White: Ernst Gruenfeld
Black: Efim Bogoljubow
Result: 1-0
ECO: E10 - Irregular Indian Opening, Blumenfeld Variation,
Blumenfeld Gambit, Dus Chotmirsky Variation
Notes by R.J. Macdonald
1. d4 Nf6
2. Nf3 e6
3. c4 c5
(This is the Blumenfeld Variation.)
4. d5 b5
(And this is the Blumenfeld Gambit.)
5. Bg5
(The Dus Chotmirsky Variation. The Blumenfeld Gambit Accepted would continue
with 5. dxe6 fxe6 6. cxb5 d5.)
5. ... h6
(The Spielmann Variation would continue with 5. ... exd5 6. cxd5 h6.)
6. Bxf6 Qxf6
7. Nc3 b4
8. Nb5 Na6
9. e4 Qxb2!?
(Black's options here include (a) 9. ... e5 10. a3 bxa3 11. bxa3 Bd6 12. Bd3
O-O 13. O-O Nc7 14. Nd2 Ne8 15. Qc2 g5 16. Rfb1 Bb8 17. Nf1 d6 18. Nc3 Bc7 19.
Ne3 Ng7 20. Ne2 h5 21. Ng3 Rb8 22. Rxb8 Bxb8 23. Rb1 Bc7 24. Ngf5 1/2-1/2, as
in the game F. Saemisch - S. Fazekas, Beverwijk 1963; (b) 9. ... g5 10. e5 Qf4
11. Bd3 (11. Qd2 Qxd2+ 12. Kxd2 Bb7 13. a3 Kd8 14. d6 Bg7 15. Re1 Bc6 16. Kc2
Kc8 17. Bd3 Kb7 18. h4 g4 19. Nh2 h5 20. f3 gxf3 21. Nxf3 f6 22. Rhf1 Raf8 23.
exf6 Bxf6 24. g3 Bxb2 25. Kxb2 Rxf3 0-1 in 41 moves, as in the game M. Vukic
(2410) - L. Ljubojevic (2550), Umag 1972) 11. ... g4 12. Qd2 Qxd2+ 13. Nxd2 Bg7
14. f4 gxf3 15. Nxf3 O-O 16. O-O-O Rb8 17. Be4 Bb7 18. Rhe1 exd5 19. Bxd5 Kh7
20. Be4+ Bxe4 21. Rxe4 Rb7 22. Nd6 Rb6 23. Rf4 Nb8 24. Rxf7 1/2-1/2, as in the
game E. Najer (2606) - V. Malakhov (2672), Moscow 2003; and (c) 9. ... exd5 10.
e5 Qg6 11. Bd3 Qe6 12. 0-0 dxc4 13. Be4 Rb8 14. Bd5 Qg6 15. Nd6+ Bxd6 16. exd6
0-0 17. Ne5 Qf5 18. Re1 c3 19. Nxf7 Rxf7 20. Re8+ Kh7 21. Be4 Qxe4 22. Rxe4 Bb7
23. Re2 Rf6 24. Qc2+ 1-0 in 43 moves, as in the game J. Trapl (2353) - A. Friml
(2162), Teplice 2009.)
10. Bd3
Key Move Diagram:
r1b1kb1r/
p2p1pp1/
n3p2p/
1NpP4/
1pP1P3/
3B1N2/
Pq3PPP/
R2QK2R
Position after white's 10th move.
10. ... Qf6?
(Better is 10. ... g5, the rescuing move, where white has a moderate advantage.)
11. e5
(A decisive move for white.)
11. ... Qd8
12. dxe6 dxe6
(12. ... Bb7 13. 0-0 dxe6 14. Qa4 is very strong for white.)
13. Be4 Qxd1+
(13. ... Bd7 doesn't improve anything after 14. Nd6+ Bxd6 15. Qxd6 with a very
strong position for white. 15. exd6?! Rb8 gives white a moderate advantage.)
14. Rxd1 Rb8
15. Bc6+
(15. Nxa7?! is clearly weaker: 15. ... Bb7 16. Bc2 Rd8 17. Ba4+ Ke7 gives white
only a moderate advantage.)
15. ... Ke7
16. Nxa7 g5
(16. ... f5 is a last effort to resist the inevitable, but white has a very
strong position.)
17. Bb5 Bg7
(Black could try 17. ... f6, but there is really nothing better in this
position: 18. Nxc8+ Kf7 19. Rd7+ Kg6 20. Bxa6 Ra8 and white should win easily.)
18. Nc6+
(Black resigned in view of 18. ... Kf8 19. Rd8#.)
1-0
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