While watching the game between these two giants, I often met Cosulich’s gaze — a very intelligent and tense one, given the no-holds-barred nature of the game, like an obstacle race in which the palm is awarded to the “one who comes first and first delivers checkmate”. I will never forget Cosulich’s gaze, addressed at a child like me, who likely grasped only a few marginal details of the game. Matteo Bosinelli, “Un figlio dei fiori”, Il Nuovo Faro, Year XI, No. 2, July 2017, p. 22. |
Marco Albano – Roberto Cosulich
23rd International Festival; La Spezia, March 1976
Sicilian Defence B78
23rd International Festival; La Spezia, March 1976
Sicilian Defence B78
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Be3 d6 7. Bc4 Nf6 8. f3
Bd7 9. Qd2 0-0 10. 0-0-0 Rc8 11. Bb3 Ne5 12. h4 h5 13. Bh6. If in the mood, White can go for the jugular with 13. g4!? hxg4 14. h5 Nxh5 15. Bh6 Rxc3? (Black’s best is 15. ... e6! at once) 16. bxc3 e6 17. Rdg1→ Cosulich – Porreca, 16th International Festival, San Benedetto del Tronto 1967.
13. ... Bxh6 14. Qxh6 Rxc3 15. bxc3 Qa5 16. g4 Qxc3 17. Kb1 a5 18. gxh5 a4
13. ... Bxh6 14. Qxh6 Rxc3 15. bxc3 Qa5 16. g4 Qxc3 17. Kb1 a5 18. gxh5 a4
It’s all theory so far.
19. Ne2? But White’s first new move is also his last one, in the sense that it costs him the game. Albano, however, seems to be oblivious to such “pedantic” details. The old book went on with 19. hxg6! axb3! 20. cxb3 fxg6 21. h5 (21. Rhg1 Kf7 22. h5 gxh5 23. Rg7+ Ke8 24. f4 Nd3!−+ Goichberg – Soltis, 3rd Eastern Team Championship, New York 1970) and now:
a ) 21. ... Nxh5 22. Rxh5! (22. f4? Nd3! 23. Qxg6+ Ng7−+ Janošević – Mestel, Zetters International Pools Grandmasters Tournament, Birmingham 1975) 22. ... gxh5 23. Rg1+ Bg4! 24.Ne6! Rf7 25.fxg4 Qd3+ with perpetual check;
b) 21. ... g5!! 22. Qxg5+ (22. Rhg1 g4!) 22. ... Kh7! with dynamic equality.
Alternatively, one can save space and time by saying with Tony Miles (It’s Only Me), “Mestel told me it is a forced draw. I don’t quite remember why, but he knows about these things”.
19. ... Qxf3 20. hxg6 axb3 21. axb3 fxg6. Clearly not 21. ... Qxe2?? because of 22. g7 turning the tables on Black.
22.h5 Nxh5 23.Rdf1 Qxf1+ 24.Rxf1 Rxf1+ 25.Kb2 Bc6. Black has too much for the Queen. White could already resign at peace with his conscience.
26. Qg5 Kf7 27. Nc3 Nf6 28. Qe3 Rf3 29.Qe2 Rf4 30.b4 Nxe4 31.Qh2 g5 32.Qh5+ Ng6 33.Nxe4 Rxe4 34.Qxg5 Rxb4+ 35.Kc3 Rf4 36.Qa5 Ne5 37.Qd8 Ba4 38.Qa8 Rc4+ 39.Kd2 Rxc2+ 40.Ke3 Bc6 41.Qh8 Rc3+ 42. Kd2 Rf3 0–1. White flagged.
19. Ne2? But White’s first new move is also his last one, in the sense that it costs him the game. Albano, however, seems to be oblivious to such “pedantic” details. The old book went on with 19. hxg6! axb3! 20. cxb3 fxg6 21. h5 (21. Rhg1 Kf7 22. h5 gxh5 23. Rg7+ Ke8 24. f4 Nd3!−+ Goichberg – Soltis, 3rd Eastern Team Championship, New York 1970) and now:
a ) 21. ... Nxh5 22. Rxh5! (22. f4? Nd3! 23. Qxg6+ Ng7−+ Janošević – Mestel, Zetters International Pools Grandmasters Tournament, Birmingham 1975) 22. ... gxh5 23. Rg1+ Bg4! 24.Ne6! Rf7 25.fxg4 Qd3+ with perpetual check;
b) 21. ... g5!! 22. Qxg5+ (22. Rhg1 g4!) 22. ... Kh7! with dynamic equality.
Alternatively, one can save space and time by saying with Tony Miles (It’s Only Me), “Mestel told me it is a forced draw. I don’t quite remember why, but he knows about these things”.
19. ... Qxf3 20. hxg6 axb3 21. axb3 fxg6. Clearly not 21. ... Qxe2?? because of 22. g7 turning the tables on Black.
22.h5 Nxh5 23.Rdf1 Qxf1+ 24.Rxf1 Rxf1+ 25.Kb2 Bc6. Black has too much for the Queen. White could already resign at peace with his conscience.
26. Qg5 Kf7 27. Nc3 Nf6 28. Qe3 Rf3 29.Qe2 Rf4 30.b4 Nxe4 31.Qh2 g5 32.Qh5+ Ng6 33.Nxe4 Rxe4 34.Qxg5 Rxb4+ 35.Kc3 Rf4 36.Qa5 Ne5 37.Qd8 Ba4 38.Qa8 Rc4+ 39.Kd2 Rxc2+ 40.Ke3 Bc6 41.Qh8 Rc3+ 42. Kd2 Rf3 0–1. White flagged.
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