Lilienthal — Kan
Moscow, 1935
- Andor Lilienthal (1911–2010)Hungarian-Soviet grandmaster and one of the first holders of the title, famous for a queen sacrifice that beat Capablanca; he lived to 99.
- Ilya Kan (1909–1978)Soviet international master whose name lives on in the Kan Variation of the Sicilian Defence.
In this position the pawns stand almost the same way as in the game Rossetto — Bobekov, but here White can carry out the breakthrough on the queenside flank much faster. The bishop on f2 plays a big part in this — it is stronger than its "opponent" on g7:
- 14.
- Preventing 15. b4
- 15.
- With the threat of ♗c8-h3. Pushing the g- and h-pawns right away promised more
- 16.
- 17.
- This could have been played right away too
- 17.
- To clear the way for the g-pawn
- 18.
- 19.
- 20.
- 21.
- 22.
- 23.
- 24.
- The breakthrough is complete. White is now completely in control on the queenside, while Black has achieved nothing real on the kingside
- 25.
- 26.
- 27.
- The trade of the light-squared bishop cannot be avoided. If it retreats to d7 or c8, 28. ♘b6 could follow
- 28.
- 29.
- Black's pawn advance on the kingside was not properly backed up by the pieces, and as a result White seizes the open g-file. An example of seizing the initiative on both flanks
- 29.
- 30.
- 31.
- 32.
- 33.
- 34.
- Now White carries out a combination, but there was no satisfactory defense left anyway
- 35.
- A beautiful move
- 35.
- and Black must resign
- 36.
- 37.
- 38.
- The queen has played its part on the queenside and now heads for the kingside
- 38.
- 39.
- 40.
- Black resigned in view of the threat of 41. ♖h8+ and 42. ♕g8#
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