ANNOTATED GAME

A famous ending
E. Z. Adams (Amateur) vs. Carlos Torre (GM)
Annotated by: last_archimedean (1564)
Chess opening: Philidor (C41), Boden variation
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Pages: 12
Just about anyone who reads about chess knows the famous ending of this game, how an ordinary amateur's brilliant Queen maneuvers forced GM Torre to give up the ghost. But have you ever wondered how the game got to that position in the first place?
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4
Adams aggressively attacks the Philidor's Defense setup Torre chooses to play.

 
3... exd4 4. Qxd4
Bringing out his Queen early... but in this game he makes it work.

 
4... Nc6
Attempting to gain time by attacking the Queen. But...

 
5. Bb5
No retreat for me, Adams says!
2 comments
 
5... Bd7 6. Bxc6
Choosing to exchange rather than remove his Queen from her central position.

 
6... Bxc6 7. Nc3
Surprisingly, Adams has made his system work. He has a lead in development of 3 pieces to 1 and a central advantage.

 
7... Nf6 8. O-O Be7
Torre prepares to castle into safety.
1 comment
 
9. Nd5 Bxd5 10. exd5
Fully opening the King file and cramping Torre with a Pawn on Q5.
1 comment
 
10... O-O 11. Bg5
Pressing the attack onwards! No fear from this amateur.
1 comment
 
11... c6
Attacking Adams' cramping QP.

 
12. c4
Reinforcing the Pawn.

 
12... cxd5 13. cxd5
Fully opening another file. Now the QB-file can be used as an attacking avenue.

 
13... Re8 14. Rfe1
Both players battle for the open file.
1 comment
 
14... a5 15. Re2 Rc8
Seizing the QB-file.

 
16. Rae1
Countering by doubling on the K file.
1 comment
 
16... Qd7 17. Bxf6
Forcing Torre to either weaken his K-side Pawns or open the K file to the battery of Rooks.
1 comment
 
17... Bxf6
This is the point at which most books pick up the game. If Black's Queen fails to guard the Rook at his K1, the continuation is RxR ch RxR RxR mate.

 
18. Qg4
18... QxQ is impossible, so...
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18... Qb5 19. Qc4
Now both ...RxQ AND ..QxQ are ruled out.

 
19... Qd7 20. Qc7
The Queen is again immune.

 

Pages: 12