Dead Leaves

Alberto Mario Giustolisi – Roberto Cosulich
37th Italian Chess Championship; Castelvecchio Pascoli, November 17, 1976
English Opening A22

Comments by Grandmaster Ludek Pachman, Trouw, Saturday, August 20, 1977, p. 21.

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 Bb4 4. Bg2 0-0 5. Nf3. A good alternative here is 5. e4.
5. ... e4 6. Nd4. 6. Ng5 Bxc3 leads to sharper play.
6. ... Re8. Also possible is 6. ... Bxc3 7. bxc3 d5.
7. Qc2 Qe7 8. a3 Bxc3 9. Qxc3. White thus prevents the doubling of his Pawns, though at the cost of falling somewhat behind in development.
9. ... c5 10. Nf5 Qe6 11. Ne3 Nc6 12. b4 d6 13. 0-0 Nd4 14. Re1 Qe5 15. Bb2 Qh5 16. d3!!

16. ... Bh3. Too dangerous would be: 16. ... Nxe2+ 17. Rxe2 Qxe2 18. Nd5 Re5 19. Nxf6+ gxf6 20. dxe4 followed by f2-f4.
17. dxe4 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 Nxe4 19. Qd3 Nxf2! Black goes for a drawing combination before White’s dark-square Bishop becomes too dangerous.
20.Kxf2 Rxe3! (20. ... Qxh2+? 21. Ng2 Re6 22. Bxd4 cxd4 23. Qxd4 Rf6+ 25. Qxf6! gxf6 26. Rh1)
21. Qxe3?? This loses immediately, whereas 21. Kxe3! Qh6+ 22. Kf2 Qxh2+ would have led to perpetual check.
21. ... Qxh2+ 22. Kf1 Nf5 23. Qf2 Nxg3+ 24. Qxg3 Qxg3 0–1.

Dragon Wizard

The following game, published by Massimiliano Enzo Maria Orsi on his own website Italian Castling — which features a constantly updated archive of Italian chess history — if nothing, dispels any myth that Roberto Cosulich’s “theory of openings” lay on mere improvisation.

Roberto Olivotto – Roberto Cosulich
16th Italian Team Chess Championship; Venice, November 2, 1976
Sicilian Defence B35

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Be3 Nf6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 0-0 8. f3?! A dubious line which gives Black a temporary upper hand.

8. ... Qb6! 9. Bb3. The only move to hold the balance. If, instead, 9. Bb5? then 9. ... Nxe4! with White’s position in tatters, Kelečević – Cosulich, 13th International Festival, Imperia 1971.
9. ... Ng4! Also good is 9. ... Nxe4! 10. Nd5 Qa5+ 11. c3 Nc5 12. Nxc6 dxc6 13. Nxe7+ Kh8 14. Nxc8 Raxc8 15. 0-0 Rcd8= with a soon draw, R. J. Fischer – Panno, Interzonal Tournament, Portorož 1958.
10. Nd5. 10. fxg4 Bxd4 11. Bxd4 Qxd4⩱ also slightly favours Black due to his sounder formation, Sakharov – L. Z. Stein, 32nd USSR Championship, Kiev 1965.
10. ... Nxe3 11. Nxb6 Bxd4!

12. Qe2? This is White’s losing mistake. Comparatively best was 12. Nxa8 Nxd1 13. Rxd1 Be5⩱ leaving Black with a somewhat better position — but nothing irremediable.
12. ... Bxb6. It does not take a chess engine to tell that in such a position the three pieces are much stronger than the Queen.
13. c3. Likewise after 13. Kd2 Na5 14. h4 Nxb3+ 15. axb3 d5! 16. h5 dxe4 17. hxg6 fxg6 18. Ra4 Bf5 19. g4 Rac8 20. c3 exf3 21. Qh2 Nf1+ 22. Rxf1 Rcd8+ 23. Ke1 f2+ 24. Rxf2 Bxf2+ 25. Qxf2 Bxg4 26. Qxf8+ Kxf8 27. Rxg4 Kf7 Black triumphed, Zagorovsky – Simagin, 29th Moscow City Chess Championship, Moscow 1951.
13. ... Rd8! 14. g4 Na5 15. h4 Nxb3 16. axb3 d5 17. h5 g5! Game over.
18. Ra4 dxe4 19. Rxe4 Rd1+ 20. Qxd1 Nxd1 21. Kxd1 Be6

White’s uncoordinated Rooks are no match for Black’s powerful two Bishops and Rook.
22. c4 h6 23. Kc2 Bc7 24. Rd1 Bd6 25. Ra1 a5 26. Rd1 Kg7 27. Kc3 b6 28. Kd3 Bd7 29. Ke2 Bc6 30. Re3 Rf8 31. Red3 f5 32. Rf1 fxg4 33. fxg4 Rf4 0–1.

The Queen’s squeeze

Yaacov Bleiman – Roberto Cosulich
21st Chess Olympiad Final B; Nice, June 21, 1974
4r3/4b2k/5R2/3p1P1q/pP2p1pP/P5P1/1B2Q2K/8 w - - 0 59

Comments by FIDE Master Israel Gelfer, Positional Chess Handbook, Dover Publications, Inc., Minneola, N. Y., 2001, p. 167.

In this delicately balanced position White surprised Black with the unexpected 59. Qa6!! quickly turning the tables in his favour.
59. ... Rg8. If now 59. ... Bxf6 60. Qxf6 Rg8 61. Qe7+ Kh6 and 62. Bc1+.
60. Qb7! 1–0. The end could be: 60. Qb7! Rg7 61. Rg6! Rf7 62. Qxd5 Qxf5 63. Rg7+.

The Unknown Photographer

Clarice Benini (right) v Vera Francevna Menchik (left), 6th Women’s World Chess Championship, Stockholm, August 6, 1937. Mission: impossible. Photo: L’Italia Scacchistica, Nos. 8-9, September 15, 1937, p. 141.

Autumn Leaves

With regard to the main question of six-time Italian Chess Vice Champion Roberto Cosulich’s presence or absence in Castelvecchio Pascoli, Italy, in the first week of February 1974, Professor Mauro Berni (Genoa, Italy) offered a possible solution which seems most plausible, namely, that “The only explanation seems to me to be that the photo was taken on the 35th Italian Chess Championship at Il Ciocco, October 1–14, 1974. Concomitantly with the Championship, was held a classic eight-round Festival featuring a Master Tournament which was won by Eslon and Cekro. Thus one should explain the presence of Cosulich — who tied with Mariotti for 3rd and 4th prizes in the Championship — in front of the poster in question. See L’Italia Scacchistica, No. 11, November 1974, pp. 349-351”. Photo: Il Ciocco.

Romeo and Juliet

Heinz Schaufelberger – Roberto Cosulich
2nd International Festival; Verona, April 1976
Queen’s Indian Defence E14

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 b6 4. e3 Bb7 5. Bd3 Be7 6. 0-0 0-0 7. b3 d5 8. Bb2 dxc4 9. bxc4 c5 10. Nbd2 Nc6 11. Qe2 Qc7 12. Rfd1 Rfd8 13. Rac1 Rac8 14. Bb1 cxd4 15. exd4 Qf4 16. Ne4. International Master Dieter Keller, in his comments for Neue Zürcher Zeitung, No. 123, May 28, 1976, p. 77, suggested 16. Nf1 as better, preventing Black from playing ... Nc6xd4.
16. ... Nxe4. Critical is 16. ... Nxd4 17. Nxd4 Nxe4 18. g3 Qxf2+! (obviously, 18. ... Qe5?? 19. Nc6 loses on the spot) 19. Qxf2 Nxf2 20. Kxf2 Bg5! with unclear but balanced play.
17. Bxe4 Bf6 18. g3 Qg4 19. d5

19. ... Bxb2? This is the decisive mistake. Black should have played 19. ... exd5 20. cxd5 (20. Bxf6 Re8! 21. cxd5 Rxe4 is good for Black) 20. ... Ne5! which, apparently, holds everything together.
20. dxc6 Bxc6. If 20. ... Bxc1 then 21. cxb7 Rxd1+ 22. Qxd1 Rb8 23. Qd7 winning at once.
21. Rxd8+ Rxd8 22. Rd1 Rxd1+ 23. Qxd1. The back-rank mate threats give White easy ways to win the day.
23. ... Bd5! An ingenious trick that at least saves the piece, if not the game.

24. Qa4! Just so. 24. cxd5? Qxe4 25. dxe6 Bf6 26. Qd6 fxe6! 27. Qb8+ Kf7 28. Qxa7+ Kg6 would leave White empty handed.
24. .. b5 25. Qxb5 Ba3 26. Bxd5 exd5 27. Qxd5. Threatening Qd5xf7+. Whether or not Black exchanges Queens, White’s extra Pawn and initiative would win easily in the endgame.
27. ... Qc8 28. Ne5 Qf8 29. Kg2 g6 30. h3 Qe7 31. Nc6 Qb7 32. Qd8+ Kg7 33. Qd4+ Kg8 34. Qd5 Bf8 35. a4 Qb6 36. Ne5 Qc7 37. Nd7 Be7 38. c5 Qd8 39. c6 1–0.

Vanishing Point

He is almost a double of six-time Italian Chess Vice Champion Roberto Cosulich, but the sign in the background that reads “Il Ciocco. Chess ’74. International Festival” raises a question about it, since Cosulich — as far as I know — did not take part in the inaugural International Festival at Il Ciocco International Tourist and Conference Centre in Castelvecchio Pascoli, Italy, on February 2–9, 1974. Can any reader provide more information about it? Photo: Il Ciocco.

To Each His Own

The following game was originally made public by Massimiliano Enzo Maria Orsi on his own website Italian Castling, which features a constantly updated archive of Italian chess history. The game is all the more interesting because it confirms, once again, that Roberto Cosulich was a bête noire to the American Stuart Wagman.

Roberto Cosulich – Stuart Wagman
4th International Open; Rovigo, September 7, 1976
Sicilian Defence B76

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. Bc4 0-0 8. f3 Nc6 9. Bb3 Bd7 10. Qe2!? Cosulich is already out of the ordinary. 10. Qd2 is mainstream theory.
10. ... a6 11. 0-0-0

11. ... Qc7? The bet worked. The move in the text allows White’s attack to spread its wings and hit hard. 11. ... Na5! 12. Qd3 b5 was satisfactory for Black in Sax – Velimirović, 1st “Tungsram” International Tournament, Budapest 1973.
12. g4 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 e5 14. Be3 Be6 15. h4 b5 16. h5 Bc4. Time did not bring any improvement: 16. ... b4 17. Nd5 Bxd5 18. Bxd5 Nxd5 19. Rxd5 Rfc8 20. Qh2 Bf8 21. Kb1 Rab8 22. f4 Rb7 23. f5 Qc4 24. Qg2 Rbc7 25. Rh2 Rb8 26. Qh1 Rbb7 27. b3 Qc6 28. fxg6 fxg6 29. hxg6 Qe8 30. Rh5 Rg7 31. gxh7+ Rxh7 32. Rd2 Rxh5 33. gxh5 Rh7 34. Rh2 Bg7 35. h6 Bf6 36. Qf1 Rf7 37. Rg2+ Kh7 38. Rf2 Qe6 39. Bg5 Kg6 40. Bxf6 1–0 Starostits – Eusebe, 1st International Open, Angers 2006.
17. Qh2 Rab8 18. Bg5 Rfc8 19. Qh4 Bxb3 20. Bxf6 Bxf6 21. Qxf6 b4 22. h6 Kf8 23. axb3 bxc3 24. Qxd6+ Qxd6 25. Rxd6 cxb2+ 26. Kxb2 1–0. Black’s Pawns fall like ripe pears.

By a Thread

Lyudmila Vladimirovna Rudenko – Clarice Benini
8th Women’s World Chess Championship; Moscow, January 12, 1950
Queen’s Gambit Accepted D24

Comments and puctuation by Grandmaster Max Euwe, Moskou 1949. Wereldkampioenschap Schaken Dames, Oosterbaan & Le Cointre N.V., Goes, 1950, pp. 76-77.

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 dxc4 4. Nc3. An unusual development move in this variant, but not a bad one.
4. ... a6 5. a4. Now that the Knight is on c3, White prevents the advance ... b7-b5 so as not to render the Knight unstable.
5. ... Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. 0-0 0-0 9. Qe2. The game has taken on the character of a mainstream Slav, but with a difference: there is a Black Pawn on a6 rather than c6. The objective remains the same: White advances e3-e4 and then tries to secure a King attack founded on the acquired positional superiority.
9. ... Bg4 10. Rd1 Nbd7 11. e4 Nb6 12. Bb3 h6. Prevents Bc1-g5 and gives the light-squared Bishop a retreat square on h7.
13. h3 Bh5 14. g4 Bg6 15. Ne5 Bh7 16. f3. g4-g5 was to be considered either now or later.
16. ... Qe7. White has assumed an aggressive stance, but Black has various means of defence at her disposal, as the the presence of the h7-Bishop in particular confers sufficient stability to the Kingside.
17. Be3 Rfd8 18. Nd3 Ba5 19. Rac1 Nbd7 20. Qg2 Kh8 21. Ne2 Bb6 22. Qf2 Rac8. Mutual strengthening and consolidation.
23. Nc5 Bxc5 24. dxc5 Ne5 25. Nd4 c6 26. Bf4 Nfd7 27. Qg3 Qf6 28. h4. Here the advance 28. g5 offered more prospects. White should have opened up the position to increase the power of the two Bishops, whereas the move in the text actually allows for a closure, which benefits the Black Knights.
28. ... g5! Very correctly played. White has now to limit herself to defence.
29. hxg5 hxg5 30. Be3 Nf8 31. Rd2 Nfg6 32. Bd1 Rd7 33. Be2 Rcd8 34. Rcd1 Qe7 35. b4 a5! The Black Queen also wishes to join the attack.
36. bxa5 Qxc5 37. Kf2. Now that the Bishop is defended, the threat of Nd4xe6 becomes a reality.
37. ... Nf4? Black plays recklessly. The quiet 37. ... Qe7 would preserve to Black all her chances.
38. Nxe6! Rxd2. Black’s combination is beautiful, but ultimately leads to nothing.
39. Rxd2. Of course not 39. Bxc5 or 39. Nxc5 because of 39. ... Rxe2+ and 40. ... Rd8xd1# mate.
39. ... Rxd2 40. Bxc5 fxe6. Not 40. ... Rxe2+ 41. Kf1 and White wins after both 41. ... fxe6 42. Bd4 and 41. ... Rg2 42. Qe1.
41. Kf1! A strong defensive move (41. ... Rxe2 42. Bd4).
41. ... Kg7! Black constantly breathes new life into the position. Once the King can defend the e5-Knight, Black will take on e2, thereby gaining decisive material superiority (Rook and two minor pieces for the Queen).
42. Be3 Rxe2 43. Bxf4 gxf4 44. Qxf4

44. ... Re1+(!). The combinatorial pitch of the battle. White thinks she will win, because two Black pieces are en prise and Black thinks she can save herself with a surprising combination.
45. Kg2. 45. Kxe1? then 45. ... Nd3+.
45. ... Nf7. Black achìeved her goal of Rook and two minor pieces for the Queen, but now an unpleasant surprise awaited her.
Also, it should be noted that 45. ... Nc4 would not be sufficient because of 46. Qc7+ Kf6 47. Qxb7 and the White passed Pawn advances (47. ... Nxa5 48. Qb4).
46. Qd2! A beautiful denouement. The White Rook is suddenly trapped.
46. ... Rb1 47. Qc2 Ra1. On 47. ... Rb4 or 47. ... Re1 definitely 48. Qc3+.
48. Qb2+ e5 49. Qxa1 Kf6 50. Qb2 Nd6 51. Qb4 1–0. A beautiful and lively game.

Click Clack Symphony

Clarice Benini – Mona May Karff
8th Women’s World Chess Championship; Moscow, January 6, 1950
Dutch Defence A82

Comments in quotation marks by Grandmaster Max Euwe, Moskou 1949. Wereldkampioenschap Schaken Dames, Oosterbaan & Le Cointre N.V., Goes, 1950, pp. 57-58.

1. d4 f5 2. e4!? The Staunton Gambit.
2. ... fxe4 3. f3!? “Usually, before accepting the loss of the gambit Pawn with f2-f3, White interpolates 3. Nc3 Nf6 (and even 4. Bg5)”.
3. ... exf3. “Theory recommends 3. ... d5. After the text move, White gets a large lead in development”.
Editor’s note: And indeed, 3. ... d5! 4. Nc3! Nf6! is a tabiya.
4. Nxf3 Nf6 5. Bd3 d6 6. 0-0 Bg4 7. Nc3. Editor’s note: If 7. Qe1 then 7. ... Nc6 8. c3 g6∞ Doulton – Reifenberg, 2nd Stevenson Memorial (Southern Counties’ Chess Union Championship), Southsea 1950.
7. ... Nc6 8. Be3 Qd7 9. d5! “Leads to lively complications”.
9. ... Ne5. “After 9. ... Bxf3 10. Rxf3 Ne5 White can sacrifice the Exchange by 11. Bf5! Nxf3+ 12. Qxf3 Qd8 13. Be6 and Black is completely crushed”.
10. Bb5. Editor’s note: Preferable seems 10. Nxe5 dxe5 11. Qe1! with the iniatiative.
10. ... c6 11. Nxe5! “The best continuation, which provides White with sufficient compensation for the gambit Pawn”.
11. ... dxe5. “11. ... Bxd1 12. Nxd7 Kxd7 13. Raxd1 cxb5 14. Nxb5 leads to an advantage for White”.
12. dxc6 bxc6 13. Qxd7+ Bxd7 14. Bc4. “Bottom line: Black’s extra Pawn is doubled (e7/e5) and hence worthless, while White increased her lead in development”.
14. ... e6 15. Bg5 Bc5+ 16. Kh1 0-0 17. Rad1 Nd5. “Not 17. ... Bd4 because of 18. Bxf6 gxf6 19. Ne4 with the threat of c2-c3”.
18. Ne4 Rxf1+ 19. Bxf1 Bf8 20. c4! “White systematically improves her position. The text move renders the Black Knight (which must defend the d7-Bishop) inactive”.
20. ... Nb6 21. Be2 c5 22. Bf3 Rc8 23. b3 h6 24. Be3. Editor’s note: If 24. Bxh6 gxh6 25. Nf6+ Kg7 26. Nxd7 Black can reply 26. ... e4! freeing herself at the cost of a Pawn.
24. ... Be7 25. Kg1 Be8 26. Nd6. “The style of the Italian Women’s Champion is particularly exciting, but a tad too radical. With the text move, she gives away many opportunities which could be pursued through a quiet preparation (e.g. beginning with 26. Bg4)”.
26. ... Bxd6 27. Rxd6 Kf7 28. Bg4. “White’s advantage of the two Bishops is undoubtedly important, but perhaps not yet decisive”.
28. ... Bd7 29. b4?

“White persists in the same error of wanting everything at once. In the tournament bulletin Smyslov gives as a better alternative 29. h4. The text move leads to interesting complications, but the main variation intended by White, 29. ... cxb4 30. Bxb6, does not hold up because of 30. ... Ke7! 31. Rxd7+ Kxd7 32. Bxa7 Rxc4 and Black gains the a-Pawn, thereby much improving her chances of victory”.
Editor’s note: It should be noted that after 29. ... cxb4! 30. c5? Ke7! White is lost.
29. ... Rc6? 30. Bxe6+. “Everything is beautiful even this way”.
30. ... Ke7 31. Rxc6 Bxc6 32. bxc5 Na4? “Black is oblivious to her chances for a draw: after 32. ... Kxe6 33. cxb6 axb6 34. Bxb6 the presence of Bishops of opposite colours would render a White victory virtually impossible”.
33. Bd5 Kd7 34. a3 Nc3 35. Bg8 Be4? “Gives White an opportunity to get rid of her doubled Pawn, thereby significantly strengthening the predominance of the White Bishops”.
Editor’s note: 35. ... a6! was the right move.
36. c6+! Bxc6 37. Bxa7 Nb1 38. Bc5! “Defends a3, threatens Bc5-f8, and prepares for the encirclement of the b1-Knight by Bc5-b4”.
38. ... Nd2 39. Bf8 e4 40. Kf2. “Otherwise the Black passed Pawn gets too dangerous”.
40. ... Nb1. “Black could only choose between losing a few Pawns, or else and losing the Knight”.
41. Bb4 Ke8 42. Ke3 g6 43. Bd5 1–0.

Just A Reminder Each Day

Fenny Heemskerk – Clarice Benini
8th Women’s World Chess Championship; Moscow, January 2, 1950
Slav Defence D18

Comments in quotation marks by Grandmaster Max Euwe, Moskou 1949. Wereldkampioenschap Schaken Dames, Oosterbaan & Le Cointre N.V., Goes, 1950, pp. 40-41.

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. 0-0 0-0 9. Bd2. “Usual is 9. Qe2, intending to advance e3-e4, which is no longer so easy to accomplish after the move in the text”.
9. ... Nbd7. “Stronger was 9. ... c5 followed by ... Nb8-c6, by which Black would have gained excellent counterplay in the centre”.
Editor’s note: And indeed, 9. ... c5! 10. Qe2 Nc6 11. dxc5 Bg4 gave Black good play in Grob–Euwe, Zürich 1947, match game 6.
10. Re1 h6. “Provides the Bishop with a retreat square in advance, although 11. e4 does not work because of 11. ... Bxc3 12. exf5 Bxd2 etc.”.
11. Qe2 Rc8. “Still Black need not concern herself with the advance e3-e4. However, the move in the text has little effect, and therefore 11. ... Qe7, along with possibly ... e6-e5, deserved preference”.
12. Nb1! “A surprising way to still achieve e3-e4; first and foremost, White saves the c3-Knight from the very troublesome exchange with ... Bb4xc3”.
Editor’s note: Again, as noted by Haije Kramer, 12. e4 Bxc3! 13. exf5 Bxd2 leads nowhere for White.
12. ... Be7. “More active was 12. ... Bd6; the difference with the move in the text will become apparent shortly”.
13. Bc3 Ne4 14. Nbd2 Ndf6. “The battle for the e4-square is suddenly now in full swing”.
15. Nxe4 Nxe4 16. Nd2 Nxc3. “Had Black played 12. ... Bd6 instead of 12. ... Be7, 16. ... Qh4 might very well follow here, compelling White to weaken his King’s position. Black was now faced with a difficult choice. The exchange on c3 admittedly strengthens White’s centre, but after 16. ... Nxd2 17. Qxd2 the c3-Bishop will play an important role, e.g. 17. ... c5 18. e4 Bh7 19. d5 etc.
After the text move, the battle for the e4-square is decided in White’s favour”.
17. bxc3 c5. “Black’s counterplay comes too late now, as White can advance in the centre with gain of tempo”.
18. e4 Bg6 19. d5! “A powerful advance, which is the best way to capitalise on the centre majority”.
19. ... exd5. “19. ... e5 was better in any case, although then White would be left with a protected passed Pawn”.
Editor’s note: But it appears to us that after 19. ... e5 20. f4! exf4 21. e5 White’s initiative would be much too strong.
20. Bxd5! “Very well played. White takes advantage of her central advantage (e4-Pawn) by bringing the Bishop to a controlling position. The pressure on f7, in particular, will make itself felt from now on”.
20. ... b6 21. Qc4. “Also strong was 21. f4, as well as f4-f5”.
21. … Qd7?! Editor’s note: Lost time. If nothing else, 21. ... Qc7 at once would save a tempo.
22. Nf3. “Slowly but surely White strengthens her position. Nf3-e5 is threatened”.
22. ... Qc7 23. e5!

“The characteristic way to benefit from a centralised Bishop. Now that the Bishop is unassailable and the Pawn no longer needs protection, this latter will act as a battering ram in combination with Qc4–Bd5”.
23. ... Rcd8 24. Rad1 Kh7 25. h4! “Very enterprising, White is going to increase the pressure on Black’s position through the advance of the Kingside Pawns, which also puts the g6-Bishop under pressure”.
Editor’s note: The attacking threat is g2-g4.
25. ... f6. “The enterprising, lusty Italian Women’s Champion doesn’t want to wait anymore, and concedes her opponent a magnificent passed Pawn. On the other hand, she had only a choice between evils”.
26. e6 Kh8 27. g4 Bh7? Editor’s note: 27. ... h5! seems to be more resistant.
28. h5 Bg8 Editor’s note: (28. ... f5? 29. Ne5+−).
29. Nh4 Bh7 30. Ng6+. “Black threatened to free herself with ... f6-f5. The exchange that follows puts emphasis on Black’s back rank difficulties”.
30. ... Bxg6 31. hxg6 f5 32. Bf3. “The Bishop has fulfilled its task and White now clears the d-file in order to benefit from Black’s back rank problems”.
32. ... fxg4 33. Rxd8! “Very importantly, White exchanges some pieces, so that the remaining Black figures will have to strictly limit themselves to protecting the back rank and defending the King”.
33. ... Rxd8. “On 33. ... Qxd8 there follows the Zwischenzug 34. Rd1, after which 34. ... Qc7 35. Qxg4 Qf4 fails to 36. Qxf4 Rxf4 37. Rd7! and wins”.
34. Qxg4 Bf6 35. Qc4. Editor’s note: Threatening e6-e7 followed by the Queen invasion to f7.
35. ... Qe7 36. Kg2 Kg8. “It is obvious what thorns the Pawn on e6 and g6 are in Black’s position. Black cannot move a muscle”.
37. Bc6. “Intending Bc6-d7, with Black almost completely boxed in”.
37. ... Rd6. “It is understandable that Black wants to prevent the Rook from being paralysed, but now the back rank is no longer adequately guarded, which hastens the end”.
38. Bd7 Kf8 39. Qe4. “Thus White takes advantage of the position of the Black Rook on d6. Black must now worry about the threat of invasion by the White Queen on a8”.
Editor’s note: White is actually threatening 40. Qa8+ Qd8 41. e7+ Bxe7 42. Qxd8+ Bxd8 43. Re8#.
39. ... Qd8 40. Re3. “The Rook is heading to the f-file”.
40. ... a5 41. Qb7 Bg5. Editor’s note: If 41. … Rd2 then 42. e7+! Bxe7 43. Qf3+ and game over.
42. Qf3+. “Decisive, as Black cannot prevent the invasion. On 42. ... Bf6 or 42. ... Qf6 there follows 43. e7+”.
42. ... Kg8 43. Qf7+ Kh8 44. e7 Bxe7 45. Rxe7 Rxg6+ 46. Kf1! “Leads to significant material advantage, because on 46. ... Kh7 there now follows 47. Bf5 Qd1+ 48. Re1 etc.”.
Editor’s note: 46. ... Kh7 47. Re8 is also convincing.
46. ... Qxe7 47. Qxe7 Rf6 48. Bb5 1–0.

Last But Not Least

“Good blood”, they say, “does not lie”. And indeed in 1911, Clarice Benini’s father participated in the historic National Tournament at Rome (the equivalent of an Italian Championship), in which he finished last with only 1 point out of 16. He won only one game, but it was a flash that illumined an otherwise shadowed biography, both for the name of the opponent and for the beauty of the combination.

Giuseppe Benini – Arturo Reggio
5th Congress USI; Rome, October 1911
French Defence C11

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Nf3 c5 6. Be3 cxd4 7. Bxd4 Nc6 8. Bb5 Be7 9. Qd2 0-0 10. Ne2 Qc7 11. c3 Ndxe5 12. Nxe5 Nxe5 13. f4 Nc6 14. 0-0 Nxd4 15. cxd4 Qb6 16. Bd3 f5 17. Kh1 Bf6 18. Rf3 Bxd4 19. Bxf5 Qxb2 20. Bxh7+ Kxh7 21. Qd3+ Kg8 22. Rb1 Qxa2 23. Nxd4 Qc4 24. Qe3 Rf6 25. g4 b6 26. g5 Rf7 27. Rc1 Qa4 28. Rh3 e5

A diagram to immortalise the Benini family! An asymmetrical situation, White is two Pawns down but enjoys a powerful attack.
29. g6! Rxf4? To paraphrase in reverse Alekhine — “What joy, to have your thinking and your fantasy carried high up by another person!”. Had Black played 29. ... Rc7!, White should have contented himself with 30. Re1!! (not 30. Rxc7? on account of 30. ... Bxh3 31. Qxh3 Qd1+ 32. Kg2 Qd2+ drawing by perpetual check) 30. ... Bxh3 31. Qxe5! Bg4! (the only move!) 32. Qxc7 Qd7 33. Qe5 retaining the initiative, but, of course, it would have been another story entirely.

In his column for La Lettura, Volume 31, 1931, p. 380, Giuseppe Padulli said, “After confidently playing 29. ... Rf7xf4, with his opponent to move, [Reggio] stood up and, walking around the hall, chatted with the others about his game; indeed, when one asked him if he was satisfied, he replied that everything seemed to be well in order: three Pawns won, and two enemy pieces threatened simultaneously, suggested a quick resolution in his favour. What was his surprise, however, when, returning to the table, he saw his opponent, Benini, play his move of rejoinder and, almost speaking to himself, say under his breath: — Mate in eight moves. So strong was the move Benini had found that it didn’t take Reggio too many minutes to comprehend the ensuing epilogue and resign himself to play forced moves until checkmate”.
30. Rh8+!! Kxh8 31. Rxc8+! Rxc8 32. Qh3+ Kg8 33. Qxc8+ Rf8 34. Qe6+ Kh8 35. Qh3+ Kg8 36. Qh7# 1–0.

Café Doney

Stefano Rosselli del Turco – Vittorio Volpi
1st Classification Tournament of Florence Chess Academy; Florence, 1899
French Defence C14

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Bxe7 Qxe7 7. Nb5 Qb4+? A grave mistake. Already at that time, theory recommended either 7. ... Nb6 or 7. ... Qd8.
8. c3 Qa5 (8. ... Qxb2 9. Rb1+−)
9. Qd2. The Nuova Rivista degli Scacchi, Nos. 1-2, February 25, 1900, from where we took the present game (pp. 33–34), notes, with some reason, that “9. b4! Qb6 10. a4! at once was stronger”.
9. ... a6 10. Na3 c5 11. Nf3 cxd4 12. cxd4 Nc6 13. Nc2 Qxd2+ 14. Nxd2 f6 15. f4 0-0 16. Bd3 fxe5 17. fxe5 Rf4 18. Nf3 Nf8 19. 0-0 Ng6 20. Bxg6 hxg6 21. Nd2? A tactical slip, which luckily for Rosselli del Turco passes unnoticed. White should have first driven out the Black Rook with 21. g3.
21. ... Rxf1+? Black could have simply won a Pawn with 21. ... Nxd4! 22. Rxf4 Ne2+.
22. Rxf1 Bd7 23. Nf3 Rf8 24. Ng5 Rxf1+ 25. Kxf1 Ne7 26. g4 Kf8 27. Kf2 Ng8 28. Nb4 Nh6 29. Kg3 Nf7. “Black wasted so much time to come to exchange a Knight that was so useful to him!”, writes the commentator of the Nuova Rivista degli Scacchi. “This is an error of strategy!”.
30. Nxf7 Kxf7 31. Kf4 Bb5 32. Nc2 Bd3 33. Ne3 Be4? And this can well be called the losing move!

34. Nc4!+− dxc4 35. Kxe4 b5 36. d5 exd5+ 37. Kxd5 Ke7 38. a3! Kd7 39. Kc5 Ke6 40. Kb6 Kxe5 41. Kxa6 Kf4 42. Kxb5 Kxg4 43. a4 1–0.

Afloat

Alar Puhm – Roberto Cosulich
International Team Tournament Mediolanum; Milan, February 12, 1974
French Defence C08

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. Ngf3 Nf6 5. exd5 exd5 6. Bb5+ Bd7 7. Qe2+ Be7 8. dxc5 0-0 9. Ne5?!

Technically a novelty, but also an incongruent one which throws away the first-move advantage, leaving Black with a symbolic initiative throughout the entire game. Best is the usual 9. Nb3 which Cosulich himself played and met with both colours: Cosulich – Paoli, 3rd International Tournament, Bari 1972, and Paoli – Cosulich, 35th Italian Chess Championship, Castelvecchio Pascoli 1974.
9. ... Re8 10. Nxd7 Nbxd7 11. 0-0 Bxc5 12. Qd1 a6 13. Bd3 Qc7 14. Nb3 Bd6 15. h3 Rad8 16. Nd4 Be5 17. Be3 Nc5 18. c3 Nxd3 19. Qxd3 Ne4 20. Nf3 Bd6 21. Rfe1 Qc6 22. Nd4 Qd7 23. f3 Nc5 24. Qd2 Bc7 25. g4 Ne6 26. Nxe6 fxe6 27. Bf4 Rf8 28. Bxc7 Qxc7 29. Kg2 Rf6 30. Rf1 Rdf8 31. Rae1 Qf7 32. Qd3 h6 ½–½.

It’s a Hard Life

Július Kozma – Roberto Cosulich
International Team Tournament Mediolanum; Milan, February 11, 1974
Nimzo-Indian Defence E43

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 b6 5. Bd3 Bb7 6. Nf3 Ne4 7. 0-0 f5 8. Qc2 Bxc3 9. bxc3 0-0 10. Ne1. Or else: 10. Nd2 Qh4 11. f3 Nxd2 12. Bxd2 Nc6 13. Rab1 Ne7 14. c5 Bc6 15. cxb6 axb6 16. Rb2 Rf6 17. e4 fxe4 18. Bxe4 Bxe4 19. Qxe4 Qxe4 20. fxe4 Rxf1+ 21. Kxf1 ½–½ Trincardi – Cosulich, 13th New Year’s International Tournament, Reggio Emilia 1970/71.
10. ... c5 11. f3 Nd6 12. e4 fxe4 13. fxe4 Rxf1+ 14. Kxf1 Qh4?! A bit too compromising. 14. ... e5! 15. Nf3 Nf7 gave Black a more than comfortable game in Muir – King, 74th British Chess Championship, Swansea 1987.
15. Nf3 Qg4 16. h3 Qg3

17. Be3?! Here and on the next few moves White might have played something like 17. d5 Nf7 18. Kg1 and consolidated his space advantage. Instead his half measures enable Cosulich to save himself in a drawn endgame.
17. ... Na6 18. Kg1 Rf8 19. Rf1 cxd4 20. Bxd4 Qg6 21. Ne5 Rxf1+ 22. Kxf1 Qh5 23. Qe2 Qxe2+ 24. Kxe2 Nxe4 25. Nxd7 Nec5 26. Nxc5 Nxc5 27. g3 Bg2 28. h4

28. ... Bf1+! 29. Kxf1 Nxd3 30. Ke2 Nc5 31. Ke3. White dares not exchange his Bishop for the Knight, as after 31. Bxc5? bxc5 32. g4 (32. Kf3 h5!) 32. ... h5! the Pawn ending would be lost for him.
31. ... Kf7 32. Be5 Nd7 33. Kd4 Nxe5 34. Kxe5 Ke7 35. g4 g6 36. g5 Kd7 37. c5! Nevertheless, White could also play 37. Kf6 Kd6 38. Kg7 e5 39. Kxh7 e4 40. h5! gxh5! 41. g6 e3 42. g7 e2 43. g8=Q e1=Q 44. Qd8+ Kc6 45. Qc8+ with a draw by perpetual check.
37. ... bxc5 38. c4! The fortress is now unbreakable.
38. ... Ke7 39. Kf4 Kd6 40. Ke4 ½–½.

The Lagoons of Venice

Jan Hendrik Timman – Roberto Cosulich
11th International Tournament; Venice, November 1974
Nimzo-Indian Defence E45

“Cosulich was the best of the Italian masters in this tournament, although many contestants were of the opinion that his youth led him to extremes. For example, look at his draw against Mariotti: 1. P-KR4 P-QR4 2. P-QR4 P-KR4, draw?! And against Timman he played clownishly and lost in six moves by overlooking a piece”, Grandmaster Pál Charles Benkö wrote in Chess Life & Review, Vol. XXX, No. 2, February 1975, p. 81.
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 b6 5. Ne2 Ba6 6. Ng3

6. ... d5?? It’s quite paradoxical that three years before, a game Gligorić – Cosulich, 10th International Tournament, Venice 1971, continued 6. ... Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 d5 8. Ba3 dxc4 9. e4 Qd7 10. Be2 Nc6 11. 0-0 0-0-0 12. Qc2 h5 13. Rfd1 Nb8!? 14. Bc1! h4 15. Nf1 Qc6 16. Bf3 Bb7 17. Bg5 Rdg8 18. d5 Qd6 19. Nd2 Qe5! 20. Bxf6 gxf6 21. Nxc4 Qf4 with satisfactory play for Black.
7. Qa4+ 1–0. “It is a safe bet that this has happened before. Cosulich missed the international master norm at this tournament by half a point” — Kevin John O’Connell, The Batsfod Chess Yearbook, B. T. Batsford Limited, London, 1975, p. 79.

Adijo

Roberto Cosulich – Bruno Parma
10th International Festival; Imperia, September 1968
Sicilian Defence B87

Comments in quotation marks by Grandmaster Enrico Paoli, L’Italia Scacchistica, No. 10, October 1968, p. 243, and International Master Stefano Tatai, Tatai insegna la Najdorf, Caissa Italia editore, Roma, 2008, pp. 162-163.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Qe2 b5 8. Bb3 Bb7 9. Bg5 Nbd7 10. 0-0-0. 10. Bxe6!? — “A sacrifice for risk-takers, or, as Steinitz, a staunch advocate of defence, might say, for aspiring suicides”. (Tatai).
10. ... h6. Also good is 10. ... Rc8! 11. Rhe1 h6 12. Bh4 g5 13. Bg3 Rxc3 14. bxc3 Qa5 15. f3 d5 16. exd5 Ba3+ 17. Kd2 Nxd5 18. Bxd5 Bxd5 with excellent compensation for the Exchange, Rossetto – Panno, “YMCA Chess Club” Tournament, Buenos Aires 1968.
11. Bh4 Rc8. 11. ... Qa5 12. Rhe1 g5 13. Bg3 Rc8? 14. e5! Rxc3 15. exf6 Rxb3 16. Nxe6! fxe6 17. Qxe6+ Kd8 18. Bxd6 Bxd6 19. Rxd6 Bc8 20. Red1 1–0 Mariotti – Eppinger, 11th International Festival, Imperia 1969 is an example of the dangers awaiting Black if unacquainted with the theory of the Sicilian. 11. ... g5 12. Bg3 Qb6∞ is an interesting alternative line for Black.
12. f4

12. ... Rxc3! “In such a position, Black needs to keep his cool, but, at the same time, adopt drastic measures, otherwise things will end badly. Hence the sacrifice, which we might now call ‘classic’, is the only possible and promising reaction. The game now becomes truly difficult for both contenders”. (Paoli).
“It is interesting 12. ... g5!? 13. fxg5 hxg5 14. Bxg5 Be7 even though after 15. h4! Rxc3 16. bxc3 Nxe4 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. Qe3 White seems to me, albeit slightly, preferable”. (Tatai).
13. bxc3 Qc7. “Now, however, 13. ... g5 can be considered better than on the previous note. To be sure, the complications after 14. e5!? e 14. Nxe6 would make anyone’s hair stand on end”. (Tatai).
14. c4 bxc4 15. Qxc4 Qxc4 16. Bxc4 Nxe4 (Δ ... ... g7-g5)
17. Be1. “Prophylactic, given the threat ... g7-g5 with complications favourable to Black”. (Paoli).
17. ... Be7 18. Rf1 d5 19. Bb3 Ndc5. “Black has only a Pawn for the Exchange, but his position is solid and the White Rooks have no outlets”. (Tatai).
20. Ba5 0-0 21. g3 Bf6 22. c3 Rc8. “It should be noted that both the White Rooks have no open files to occupy at the moment, while the Black unites are ideally placed”. (Paoli).
23. Kb2 Bc6. “The threats are gathering and White is forced to ease up, but he gives up an important and well-placed Knight”. (Paoli).
24. Nxc6 Rxc6 25. Bb4. “After the fall of the Pawn at c3 Black’s compensation will be more than abundant”. (Tatai).
25. ... Nb7 (Δ ... a6-a5)

26. f5. “The return of the Exchange is tempting but incorrect: 26. Rxd5 exd5 27. Bxd5 Rb6! (28. Bxe4 Rxb4+). On the other hand the threat of ... a6-a5 becomes pressing and since there is no defence, White throws himself into the fray”. (Paoli).
26. ... a5 27. fxe6 fxe6 28. Rxf6 gxf6 29. Ba3 Kg7? (29. ... Rxc3!−+)
“It is not well clear why Black did not take on c3 with the Rook (29. ... Nxc3? 30. Rd3 Nb5 31. Rxd5!)”. (Paoli).
30. c4 dxc4 31. Rd7+ Kg6 32. Bc2 Rb6+ 33. Kc1 f5 34. Bxe4 fxe4

35. Rd4? “If 35. Bb2 then 35. ... Nd6. Not 35. ... e3 36. Bd4 e2 37. Kd2”. (Paoli).
White goes on the wrong track. Correct was to centralise the King at once with 35. Kd2 Kf5 36. Ke3 e5 and the ending, albeit somewhat drawish, appears easier to play Black.
35. ... Kf5 36. Rxc4 Nd6 37. Rc5+ Kg4 38. Rxa5 Nc4 39. Ra7 e3 40. Ra4 Rc6 41. Kd1 Kf3 ½–½. “This is the result also given in the ChessBase online database, but it is evident that the final position is easily won for Black”. (Tatai).

K6

Apparently, before leaving England, Roberto Cosulich played (for a penultimate time?) for Middlesex in a match by telephone against a geographically limited representative of Scotland. As reported by the British Chess Magazine, Volume LXXXV, No. 6, June 1965, p. 164, Cosulich, with Black on board four, drew against H[arry?] W[ard?] Richardson:

Middlesex, as County Champion, recently challenged Scotland to a match over eight boards by telephone. Scotland accepted but were unable to bring together a team representing both the East and West, so they called their team West of Scotland. The match, played on May 1st, ended on a 3–3 score with two games unfinished; these were subsequently adjudicated by P. H. Clarke in Scotland’s favour. The detailed results are as follows (Middlesex had White on the odd-numbered boards)— (1) J. Penrose (Middlesex) 1, W. A. Fairhurst (West of Scotland) 0; (2) D. G. Wells (M.) 0, M. Fallone (S.) 1; (3) T. A. Landry (M.) 0, G. Bonner (S.) 1; (4) R. Cosulich (M.) ½, H. W. Richardson (S.) ½; (5) G. Dickson (M.) 1, K. B. McAlpine (S.) 0; (6) R. Fertoszegi (M.) ½, M. J. Freeman (S.) ½; (7) D. Wright (M.) 0, P. M. Jamieson (S.) 1; (8) D. J. Rogers (M.) 0, H. D. Holmes (S.) 1.—Middlesex 3, West of Scotland 5.

Notes from the Sidelines

Roberto Cosulich – Andrea Grinza
36th Italian Chess Championship; Pesaro, June 1975
Caro-Kann Defence B13

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. c5!?

The Gunderam Variation, a sideline favoured by Grandmaster Sergio Mariotti. White gets a Queenside Pawn majority, but to the detriment of his own development.
5. ... e6. More often Black is caught in the dilemma of having to choose between a Pawn break in the centre and a Pawn break on the Queenside: 5. ... e5!? 6. dxe5 Ne4⩱ Mariotti – Pfleger, 7th International Tournament, Olot 1972 or 5. ... b6 6. b4 e6 7. Be3 bxc5 8. dxc5 a5 9. Qa4+ Nfd7 10. Nd2 Bb7 11. Nb3 axb4 12. Qxb4 Qc7∞ Mariotti – Flesch, 4th Memorial Ivan Parčetić, Sombor 1970.
6. Nc3 b6. Very instructive is 6. ... Be7 7. Nf3 0-0 8. Bd3 b6 9. b4 a5 10. Na4 Nbd7 11. Bf4 axb4 12. c6 Nc5! 13. dxc5 bxc5 and Black’s Pawn roller more than compensates for White’s extra piece, Prins – Richter, Richard Réti Memorial, Trenčianske Teplice 1949.
7. b4 Be7. 7. ... a5 8. Na4 Nfd7 9. Bb5 would give White much more than he dared hope for.
8. Bb5+ Bd7 9. Bf4 0-0 10. Bxd7 Nfxd7 11. Nge2 a5 12. a3 axb4 13. axb4 Rxa1 14. Qxa1 bxc5 15. bxc5. 15. dxc5 gives White two passed Pawns on the Queenside, but Black counterattacks in the centre by 15. ... d4 16. Ne4 Nc6 with a volatile initiative.
15. ... Nc6. 15. ... e5 16. dxe5 d4 17. Nxd4 Nxc5 seems playable enough for Black.
16. 0-0 e5 17. dxe5 (17. Qa4 Qa8=)
17. ... Ndxe5. Also good is 17. ... Nxc5 18. Rd1 d4 19. Be3 Ne6 with equality.
18. Rd1 Bxc5 19. Rxd5 Qe7 20. Bxe5 Nxe5 21. Ne4 Nd7? The losing mistake, leaving Black’s pieces overloaded with impossible defensive tasks. Both 21. ... Ng4! and 21. ... Ng6! merit consideration, so as to reply to 22. N2g3 with 22. ... Qa7! and apparently Black’s just about holding his own.

22. N2g3! Threatens Ng3-f5.
22. ... f6. Or 22. ... g6? 23. Rxd7! winning right off.
23. Qd1! 1–0.

Man on a Raft

When he could, Roberto Cosulich preferred to live where there were seas and ports. And when there was no sea, he would be content with a river. And so, on his way from the Chilean sea to the Mediterranean, he docked his raft on the English shores in 1965.
With the precious help of John Saunders, we succeeded in spotting him here and there around the British docks:

9th Easter Congress — Major A
Southend-on-Sea, April 16–19, 1965

                         1  2  3  4  5  6  Pts
1 WHITBREAD, Alan W.     •  1  ½  ½  1  1   4
2 COSULICH, Roberto      0  •  1  1  1  1   4  
3 ROE, Philip L.         ½  0  •  ½  1  1   3
4 WINSER, William A.     ½  0  ½  •  1  1   3
5 HAWSON, John B.        0  0  0  0  •  1   1
6 HARDER, J. H.          0  0  0  0  0  •   0

16th Ilford Whitsun Congress — Premier Reserves A
Ilford, June 4–7, 1965
As we read on the BritBase website, “The final scores were: (1) Raymond D. Keene 3½; (2) T. Goodhill 3; (3-4) Kenneth W. Lloyd, George W. Wheeler 2½; (5) Andrew J. Whiteley 2; (6) Roberto Cosulich (Santiago, Chile) 1½”.
Even in this case none of his games are given.

Furthermore, a few references to Cosulich playing board seven for Middlesex in the 1964/65 Southern Counties Championship appear on The Monthly News Bulletin of the Southern Counties Chess Union, No. 46, Volume 7, June 1965. Cosulich, with White, first defeated John G. Brogden of Surrey, and then David G. Levens of Leicestershire, leading Middlesex to the Semi-Final match against Chesire which took place on June 12, 1965. “Some of the players on higher boards were well-known (Wade, Hartston, etc.)”, Saunders writes. “He drew his game (playing Black) with Vernon Dilworth. Middlesex qualified for the final but he did not play in that match, so perhaps he left the country at that point”.
It should be noted that the distinguished English amateur Vernon Dilworth was not only the originator of the homonymous variation in the Open Ruy López (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. c3 Bc5 10. Nbd2 0-0 11. Bc2 Nxf2), but also the proponent of a controversial gambit in the Nimzo-Indian (1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e4).