Break Through on the Overload

Lapoc Chess Board, Issue #050 -- GOTM #19

It's 1910 in New York. Jose Raul Capablanca, the Human Chess Machine is 22 and beginning his climb to the summit of World Chess Championship glory, a prize he would finally capture 11 years later.

Here with the White pieces, the Cuban maestro takes on talented New Yorker, Charles Jaffe. Jaffe, originally from Belarus had settled in New York years earlier and was sometimes known as the Crown Prince of East Side Chess.

White opens well, gets his pieces nicely posted and is well placed for the battle ahead. Black is also ready, he has his pieces developed, his King tucked away with a nice compact setup. It doesn't look to the untrained eye like there is a way through, but one player spots an overloaded piece and immediately strikes with devastating effect.

Break Through on the Overload

Capablanca, JR - Jaffe, C [D30]

GotM #19 - New York, 1910
[Connaughton, Ken]

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 c6 4.c4 e6

Semi-Slav set up for Black.

5.Nc3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 Bd6

(6...dxc4+/-)

7.0-0 0-0 8.e4

Game position after 8.e4

White is ready to open the center.

8...dxe4 9.Nxe4 Nxe4 10.Bxe4 Nf6

(10...h6+/-; 10...f5+/-)

11.Bc2 h6 12.b3 b6 13.Bb2 Bb7 14.Qd3 g6

(14...Re8+/-)

15.Rae1

Game position after 15.Rae1

White's forces are moving into position to launch a strike, but Black looks secure. However, it turns out that the f7-pawn is overworked now, having to guard both e6 and g6. This is the main idea behind the text move and it's a problem Black must address immediately.

15...Nh5?

He hasn't spotted the danger and now the attack will be swift and brutal.

(15...Re8+/- would have solved the problem.; 15...Qe7+/- would also have dealt with the threat.)

16.Bc1

One final preparation before the attack.

(16.Ne5+/-)

16...Kg7?

(16...Nf4 was the last chance to stymie the attack. 17.Bxf4 Bxf4 18.Rxe6 Qc7+/-)

17.Rxe6!

Game position after 17.Rxe6!

And Black suddenly sees that he is in the eye of a storm.

17...Nf6

(17...fxe6 18.Qxg6+ Kh8 19.Qh7#)

18.Ne5 c5 19.Bxh6+!

The hammer blow that ends Black's resistance.

19...Kxh6

(19...Kg8 20.Nxf7)

20.Nxf7+

Game position after 20.Nxf7+

# next move and so Black resigns.

(20.Nxf7+ Rxf7 (20...Kg7 21.Qxg6#; 20...Kh7 21.Qxg6#; 20...Kh5 21.Qh3#) 21.Qxg6#)

1-0

Capablanca - Jaffe (New York, 1910)

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See you next month.

Ken

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