Don't be intimidated!

After amassing the impressive record of 50%/50% and 0% draws on chess.com over the past few weeks, I decided it was time to hit the chess books again. One of these books, "Winning Chess, tactics & strategies" was written by Ted Nottingham, Al Lawrence & Bob Wade (International Master).

In the book, on pages 116-121, the authors extoll the virtues of a chess player named Rudolf Charousek in "A Dazzling Finish.” I read the story with interest and decided to use the Analysis Board at chess.com to follow the play.

Suddenly, at move 13 by Black, I asked myself, "why would he play that?"

1.e4 e5
2.d4 exd4
3.c3 dxc3
4.Bc4 Nf6
5.Nf3 Bc5
6.Nxc3 d6
7.O-O O-O
8.Ng5 h6
9.Nxf7 Rxf7
10.e5 Ng4
11.e6 Qh4
12.exf7+ Kf8
13.Bf4 Nxf2 (Nxf2 is the wrong move here, IMHO!)

I figured that I probably just didn't understand the deeper game and continued to analyze it. It turned out that I had overlooked a move at the top of the page which kind of explained things, but then, I noticed the diagram was wrong. This is a chess book, mind you!

If we ignore the silly move by Wollner (13. ... Nxf2 and the "clever" discovered check from the Black Bishop), Charousek's win is impressive!

Of course, we also have to ignore the incorrect diagram in the book which leaves the White King in check (on g1 rather than h1 where he moved) from the Black Bishop to the very end.

It makes me feel a little better about my own mistakes to see this kind of oversight in a chess book.

Of course, it's easy to criticize a game that was played "live." I have very little sympathy for the authors of the book, however!

As an addendum, here are my suggested moves for Black at 13. and beyond.

After 13.Bf4 by White:

13. ... Bxf2+
14.Rxf2 Qxf2+
15.Kh1 Qxf4
16.Qe2 Qxh2#

If there are any chess wizards out here who can set me straight, I would very much appreciate it!

jamesing

Sat 11 Feb 2012