Two Coins in the Fountain

Judit Polgár (@GMJuditPolgar)

Judit Polgár – Ennio Morricone
Friendly challenge; match game 1; Rome, May 4, 2004
Spanish Game C78

The asymmetrical time control consisted of 10 minutes for White and 15 minutes for Black. 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Bc5 6. c3 0-0 7. d4 exd4? (Book is 7. ... Ba7) 8. cxd4 Bb6

9. d5 Na7? 9. ... Ne7 10. d6 cxd6 11. Nc3 gives White a powerful bind. 10. e5+− Ng4 11. h3 Nxf2 12. Rxf2 Bxf2+ 13. Kxf2 Re8 14. Qd3 b5 15. Bc2 g6 16. Bg5 Re7 17. Nc3 Qf8 18. Ne4 f5 19. Nf6+ Kg7 20. Qc3 Kh8 21. Qd4 Rf7 22. Rc1 Bb7 23. e6 dxe6 24. dxe6 Rd8 25. Nd7+ 1 : 0.

Ennio Morricone – Judit Polgár
Friendly challenge; match game 2; Rome, May 4, 2004
Queen’s Pawn Game D01

Now, by “reverse odd”, White gets 15 minutes and Black 10 minutes. 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Bf4 Bf5 4. e3 e6 5. Bd3 Bg6 6. Nf3 Bd6 7. Bg3 0-0 8. Ne5 Bxd3 9. Qxd3 c5. Now White castles on the wrong side (and probably at the wrong time), allowing Black to seize the upper hand: 10. 0-0-0? Nc6! 11. dxc5?? Visibly tired, Morricone blundered a piece. 11. ... Bxe5 12. Bh4 Nb4. And now he melodramatically left the Queen en prise: 13. Kb1?? 0 : 1. A bow that meant resignation.