Get the Paulsen Knight to the Kingside

Chessorb Classic, Issue #124 -- GOTM #94

For the third month in a row we take a look at the Paulsen Variation in the French Defense. Once again White will ignore the threats to his center. Instead of concentrating the defense of d4, he swings his pieces over to attack the Kingside.

More sacrifices follow and again the doors to the King's stronghold are blown off their hinges at whatever expense. Knowing that a majority of force around the enemy King outweighs a material deficit across the entire board, White sacrifices to get at his quarry.

The protagonists this month are Rudolf Spielmann with White and Rudolf L'Hermet with Black. The game was played in Madgeburg, Germany in 1927.

Get the Paulsen Knight to the Kingside

Spielmann, Rudolf - L'Hermet, Rudolf [C10]

GotM #94 Magdeburg, 1927
[Connaughton, Ken]

1.e4

King's Pawn Game

1...e6

French Defense

2.d4 d5 3.Nc3

Paulsen Variation

3...dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7

Game position after 4...Nd7

is yet another option here.

(4...Bb4+; 4...Bd7)

5.Nf3 Ngf6 6.Nxf6+ Nxf6 7.Bd3 h6 8.Qe2 Bd6 9.Bd2 0-0 10.0-0-0

Game position after 10.0-0-0

And now we have opposite sides castling so the game should be very sharp.

10...Bd7 11.Ne5 c5 12.dxc5 Bxe5 13.Qxe5 Bc6 14.Bf4 Qe7 15.Qd4 Rfd8 16.Bd6 Qe8 17.Rhg1

Preparing the g-push.

17...b6 18.Qh4

Switching to the Kingside to help with the coming attack.

18...bxc5 19.Be5 Qe7 20.g4

The g-pawn's job is to rip open the King's cover.

20...c4 21.g5!

Game position after 21.g5!

White pays no mind to the threat to his d3-Bishop. His attack is much faster.

21...Nd7 22.Qxh6!!

Now even as both of his Bishops are under attack White sacrifices his Queen.

22...gxh6

(22...cxd3 23.Qxg7#; 22...Nxe5 23.Qh7+ Kf8 24.Qh8#)

23.gxh6+ Kf8 24.Rg8+

Game position after 24.Rg8+

And Black resigns.

(Because 24.Rg8+ is beaten by 24...Kxg8 25.h7+ Kf8 26.h8Q#; Not 24.h7 which would have led to 24...Qh4 25.Bd6+ Ke8 26.Rg8+ Nf8 27.Rxf8+ Kd7 28.h8Q Qxh8 29.Rxh8 Rxh8 30.Bxc4 Rh5 31.b4=)

1-0

Spielmann, Rudolf - L'Hermet, Rudolf [C10]

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See you next month.

Ken

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