It would be not fair if I dont mention one of the Ruy lopez's game, his opening being my 2nd best (in play, mostly used!). This game features a commonly made combinative sham sacrifices( Even I did it A LOT OF TIMES after learning it!) which deprives the opponent of a castling privelege as well as a pawn!
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It would be not fair if I dont mention one of the Ruy lopez's game, his opening being my 2nd best (in play, mostly used!). This game features a commonly made combinative sham sacrifices( Even I did it A LOT OF TIMES after learning it!) which deprives the opponent of a castling privelege as well as a pawn!
Jul 8, 2012
0
#23
There's a bit of an interesting story behind this game.
Leonardo di Bono was also called Leonardo da Cutri (Cutrie) or more commonly "Il Puttino."
When Ruy Lopez came to Rome around 1572-73, he played and beat Leonardo, who had learned the game in Rome and seemed to have some natural talent, in 2 games. Leonardo retired to Naples at the palace of Prince Fabrizio Gesualdo who was Paolo Boi's benefactor and where Boi conducted a chess academy. Boi was recognized as the best player in Italy. There he improved his game over the next two years and became, at the very least, Boi's equal. Somewhere in this time Leonardo supposedly played against a Turkish or Saracen pirate captain for the release of his brother whom they held prisoner. Not only did he win his brother's freedom, but he took some prizes in addition. Confident again in his abilities, Leonardo, accompanied by his student Polerio, went to Genoa to sail for Madrid for the express purpose of challenging Ruy Lopez. There he met a woman, fell in love and proposed before leaving. He arrived in Madrid in 1575 and challenged Ruy Lopez at 50 scudi per game, winning all the games. Philip II heard of this and invited Leonardo to play Ruy Lopez is a sort of official match, for prizes as well as fame, at his court. Alphoso Ceron, a Portuguese player considered 2nd only to Ruy Lopez, was present as well as Leonardo's student, Polerio, and soon Paolo Boi arrived according to his own famously spirited manner. A match began pitting the Italians against the Spaniards. Leonardo lost the first two games (of which one is the above game) and Philip II, observing the games and thinking he overestimated the Italian player, made to leave. But Leonardo begged him to stay, explaining how his play was a set up and he lost the first 2 h=games on purpose for a dramatic finale. He convinced Philip II and the match continued with Leonardo easily beating Ruy Lopez the next 3 games straight. For winning 3 straight games, Leonardo received 1000 scudi. For winning the match, he received a jewel-encrusted brooch in the shape of a salamander, a sable fur and, after some negotiation, his home town of Cutro was given a reprieve from taxes for the next 20 years.
