«Gladiatoren Ante Portas»
(Book Of The Massow- Memorial Tournament Corr.1996-2001)
By GMs Volker-M. Anton and Dr. Fritz Baumbach
Homepage: http://www.anton-baumbach.de.

Hans-Werner von Massow (1912-1988) was a legendary organizer whose life and work has become synonymous with the history of ICCF. The selflessness and dedication of Massow and his devoted wife Bertl to the cause of correspondence chess was emulated by other kindred spirits like Eric Larsson and Henk J.Mostert, to name a few. What could be a greater tribute to this noble spirit than a tournament in memoriam? It was only appropriate that the event was organized by the BDF on the occasion of its 50th Jubilee for Massow was one of its founding fathers and nurtured the organization in its formative years.

Thus began the strongest tournament in correspondence chess with the participation of 7 world champions and 8 GMs in 1996. Five years later when the smoke on the battlefield had cleared, the surprise victor turned out to be GM Volker-M. Anton from Germany with 10 out of 14 points (6 wins ,8 draws and no losses!).He was closely followed by Timmerman who also scored the same number of points, and was placed second on tie-break.

The success of Anton is an inspiring story. He has been afflicted with muscular dystrophy since childhood. With sheer willpower, optimism and devotion to chess he has performed this stupendous feat overcoming his severe physical disability. Most of his games in this tournament have been tough positional struggles with fine tactical motifs lurking just beneath the surface. His game against van Geet has been included in Harding's 64 Great Chess Games reviewed on this web site.

The other game against Oim presented below is taken from the book under review.

This work has as many as 106 games with most of them having detailed annotations by the authors GM Anton and Dr. Fritz Baumbach, the former CC world Champion who also participated in the tournament. It is an elegant hardback edition enlivened by a number of anecdotes, cartoons and photographs of players.

The book is destined to be a classic of correspondence chess.

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.exd5 exd5 5.Ngf3 Nc6 6.Be2
6.Bb5 is the main line in this variation. The idea of this move is to attack the Black IQP with Bf3.
6...Nf6 7.0-0 cxd4 8.Re1 Be7 9.Nb3 0-0 10.Nfxd4
After 10.Nbxd4 Re8 11.h3 Ne4 is possible. With this move the knight vacates f3 for the bishop.
10...Re8 11.Bf3 a5!?
After 11...a6 12.Bf4 White has initiative.
12.a4 Nxd4 13.Nxd4 Bd7 14.Bf4 Qb6 15.Nb3 Bd6 16.Rxe8+ Rxe8 17.Bd2
White could have tried 17.Bxd6 Qxd6 18.Nxa5. After 18...Qb4 19.Nb3 Bxa4 mentioned in the book, he can play 20.Nd4 and the outcome is unclear.
17.Be3 is bad. After 17...Rxe3! 18.fxe3 Qxe3+ 19.Kh1 Qe5 with enough compensation for the exchange.
17.Bg5 yields the initiative to Black as the pressure on the IQP turns out to be illusory. For example, 17...Bc7!? 18.Bxf6 Qxf6 19.Bxd5 (19.Qxd5 Bxa4! 20.Qxb7 ?? Qe5! wins-NSH) Bb6 20.Qf3 Qxf3 21.Bxf3 Bxa4 22.Bxb7 Re2 wins. While this line is not forced, it shows the opportunities available for Black.
17...Be5 18.c3
Not 18.Bxa5? Qd6 according to the book. After 19.g3 Black can play for attack with 19...h5-NSH
18...Bc7 19.g3
If 19.Be3? Rxe3! (Here we go again !) 20.fxe3 Qxe3+ 21.Kh1 Qh6 22.Qg1 g5 with an irresistible attack.
19...Bh3 20.Bg5 Re5 21.Bf4
21.Bxf6?! Qxf6 22.Bxd5? Bb6 23.Bf3 (23.Qd2 Bg4!) h6! wins according to the book. GM Anton offers the following beautiful variations :

• 24.Nd4 Bxd4 25.cxd4 Re1+! 26.Qxe1 Qxf3! The point of 23...h6! White has only a spite check on e8.
• Or 24.Rb1/Rc1 Re1+! Black wins.
• Finally,24.Nd2 Bxf2+25.Kh1(25.Kxf2 Qb6#) holds no cheer for White.

21...Re7 22.Bxc7 Rxc7 23.Ra2
"I didn't like to play 21. Ra2" wrote Oim after the game.
But if 23.Qc2 d4 (23...Bd7 24.Nd2 d4) Black overruns the territory and White is on retreat. So the move was forced.
23...Re7 24.Nd4 Ne4 25.Bg2 Qf6 26.f3 Bxg2 27.Kxg2 Nc5 28.b4 axb4 29.cxb4 Nd7 30.a5 g6 31.b5 Ne5 32.a6 Nc4 33.Qa1 bxa6 34.bxa6 Ra7 35.Nb5! Ne3+ 36.Kf2 Qb6!(Diagram) 37.Nxa7 Nc2+ 38.Kg2 Nxa1 39.Nb5 Nc2 40.a7 Ne3+
After 41 Kf2! or 41.Kg1! Black has no more than perpetual check. But White wants more.
41.Kh3??
Driving the king to the danger zone.
41...Qf6 42.Nd4

42...g5!!
The point.
43.a8Q+ Kg7 44.Qa6 Qxd4 45.Qe2 Qe5 46.g4 d4 47.Ra4
47.Qf2 Qd6 48.f4 Qe6 49.Qe2 gxf4 50.Ra5 Qe4 51.Rg5+ Kf8 52.Qf2 d3 is also hopeless.
47...Qf4 48.Ra7 h5 49.Rd7 hxg4+ 50.fxg4 Qf6 51.Kg3 Qe6 52.Ra7
Not 52.Rxd4?? Nf5+ wins.
52.Rd8 Qe5+ 53.Kh3 .f5 54.Rd7+ Kf8 does not save the game either.
52...Qd6+ 53.Kf2 Qxh2+ 54.Ke1 Qg1+ 55.Kd2 Qb1 56.Qf3 Nc4+ 57.Ke2 Qc2+ 58.Ke1 Ne5 59.Qg3
Not 59.Qf5? Nd3+ 60.Kf1 Qd1+ 61.Kg2 Nf4+ wins.
59...Nd3+ 60.Kf1 Qd1+ 61.Kg2 Nf4+ 62.Kf2 Qe2+ 63.Kg1 d3 64.Rd7 Qe6 65.Rxd3 Ne2+ 66.Kf2 Nxg3 67.Rxg3 Qe4 68.Kg1 Qe1+ 69.Kg2 Qxg3+! 70.Kxg3 Kf6 71.Kf2
Or 71.Kf3 Ke5 72.Ke3 f6 73.Kf3 Kd4 Black wins.
71...Ke5 72.Kf3 Kd4 0-1
A hard-fought battle !

The pearl of the tournament was the following game:

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Bf5
This move has the advantage of rapid, simple development with the idea of a quick e5. 3.Bf4 e6 4.e3 Bd6 5.Bxd6 Qxd6 6.c4 Nf6
6...Qb4+ 7.Qd2 leaves White with the preferable endgame.
7.Nc3 0-0 8.Rc1 Nc6 9.c5 Qe7
With 9 c5 White wants to keep the centre closed and to control the dark squares. With 9...Qe7 Black is aiming for ...e5 even if he has to sacrifice a pawn. The variation 9...Qd7 10.Bb5 Bg4 11.Qa4 Bxf3 12.gxf3 Rfe8 13.f4 mentioned by Palciauskas would surrender both initiative and space to White.
10.Bb5 Bg4 11.Bxc6 bxc6 12.Qa4 Bxf3 13.gxf3 e5 14.Ne2 e4 15.f4 Ng4!?
Leading to interesting complications. White can no longer keep this a positional battle.
15 Qd7 retains the pawn with a tenable position-NSH
16.Qxc6 Qh4 17.Ng3 Qh3
The threat is 18...Qg2 19 Rc2 Nxe3.
18.Rc2 Rfd8
Now 18...Qg2 would have been answered with 19 Re2.
19.Kd1!
The King runs for safety to the other side! Unclear is 19.Qxc7 h5 20.Qe7 h4 21.Nf5 Qg2 22.Qg5 Qxh1+ 23.Kd2 g6 24.Qxg4 Qf1 25.Ne7+ Kf8 26.Qxh4 Qd3+
19...Rac8
19...Nxh2 20.Qxc7 is bad for Black.
Or 19...Qg2 20.Kc1(20 Nxf2 21.Kb1 Qf3 22.Rf1 The Black knight is lost.) Nxh2 21.Rd1 Ng4 22.Nf5 Nxf2 23.Qxc7
20.Kc1 Qg2 21.Kb1 h5
21...Nxh2 22.Rcc1 Nf3 23.Nf5 Kh8 24.Rh5+- Or 21...Kh8 22.Qa6 .
22.Qa6
Threatening Qf1 leaving Black with no compensation for the pawn.
22...Nxh2 23.Rcc1 Rb8!
23...Nf3 24.Rxh5 and doubling rooks on the h-file should lead to a win.
Or 23...Ng4 24.Rcf1 Nxf2 25.Rhg1 Qh2 26.Nxh5! Qxh5 27.Rxf2 when it will be difficult for Black to defend his pawns and avoid the attack along the g-file.
24.Qe2 Ng4
Not 24...Nf3 25.Rxh5+ or 24...h4 25.Nf5+-
25.Rcf1 g6 26.Nxh5!
The point of 22 Qe2.
26...Qf3
26...gxh5 27.Rfg1 Qf3 28.Qxf3 exf3 29.Rxh5+-
27.Ng3 Kg7 28.Rh4
Exchanging Queens gives Black compensation because the pawn on f2 is vulnerable to attack.
28...f5
28...Qxe2 29.Nxe2 f5 30.Nc3 c6 31.Nd1 Rh8 32.Rfh1 and Black has no compensation for the pawn.
29.Qa6!
The Queen returns to the attack and threatens penetration at c6 or e6. At first sight Blacks position appears hopeless.

• 29...Nxf2 30.Nxf5+ leads to mate.
• 29...Nf6 30.Qe6 Re8 31.Nxf5+ gxf5 32.Rg1++-
• 29...Rh8 30.Qc6! Rxh4 31.Qxc7+ Kf6 32.Qd6+ Kg7 33.Qxb8+-

29...Nxe3!
A brilliant move leading to terrific complications.
30.Rh3!!
A quiet move, but the best one. Other possibilities are not as good, and some are downright bad. For example:

• 30.Nh5+ gxh5 31.fxe3 Rxb2+! 32.Kxb2 Rb8+ 33.Kc1 (33.Ka1 Qxe3-+) 33...Qg2 34.Re1 Qb2+ 35.Kd1 Qf2 36.Qe2 Qxh4 Black is a pawn up and also has attacking chances.
• 30.fxe3 Qxg3 31.Rfh1 Rh8 32.Qe6 (32.Qxa7 Rxh4 33.Qxc7+ Kh6) 32...Rxh4 33.Qe7+ Kg8 34.Qxh4 with a slight plus.
• 30.Qe6? Rxb2+! 31.Ka1 Nc2+ 32.Kxb2 Rb8+ 33.Kc1 Qa3+ and it's mate in five.; 30.Rg1 Rxb2+! (30...Ng4 31.Nxf5+) 31.Ka1 Ng2 (31...Ng4 32.Rgh1) 32.Nxf5+ (32.Qe6 Rxa2+) 32...gxf5 33.Qh6+ Kf7 34.Qh7+ Ke8 35.Qg6+ Kd7 36.Qxf5+ Kc6 37.Qf6+ Kb7 38.Qxd8 Qc3-+ is another example how White could go wrong.

30...Rxb2+!
Other possibilities are bad.

• 30...Nxf1 31.Nxf5+ gxf5 32.Qh6+ Kf7 33.Qh7+ Ke8 34.Qg6+ Kd7 35.c6+ and its mate in two.
• 30...Qg2 31.Nh5+ gxh5 32.Rxe3 h4 33.Ree1+- Kf7 34.Rg1 Rxb2+ 35.Kxb2 Qxf2+ 36.Ka3+-;
• 30...Qg4 31.Nh5+ gxh5 32.Rxe3 h4 33.Ree1 Kf7 34.Rg1 Qh5 35.Rg5 Qh7 36.Reg1 Rg8 37.Qc6+-

31.Ka1
This is better, and definitely more interesting, than the endgame that follows 31.Kxb2 Nc4+ 32.Qxc4 dxc4 33.Nxf5+ gxf5 34.Rxf3 exf3 35.Kc3 Re8
31...Rdb8
Giving up the queen is the best chance to hold the game. Other alternatives fail altogether.

• 31...Rxf2 32.Nxf5+ Nxf5 33.Rxf3 Rxf3 34.Rg1+-
• 31...Qg2 32.Qc6 (32.Rfh1 Qxh3!? 33.Rxh3 Rdb8 34.Nxf5+ Nxf5 35.Rb3+-) 32...Rdb8 (32...Qxh3 33.Qxc7+ Kh6 34.Qxd8) 33.Qxc7+ Kg8 34.Qh7+ Kf8 35.Qh8+ Kf7 36.Rh7+ Ke6 37.Qe5#
• 31...Qg4 32.Qc6 (32.Rfh1 Qxh3!) 32...Qxh3 33.Qxc7+ Kh6 34.Qxd8+-

32.Nxf5+

32.fxe3 Rb1+! 33.Rxb1 Rxb1+ 34.Kxb1 Qd1+= leads to perpetual check.
32...Nxf5
32...gxf5 33.Qh6+ Kf7 34.Qh7+ Ke8 35.Qg6+ Kd8 36.Rh8+ Kd7 37.c6+ Ke7 38.Rh7+ leads to mate.
33.Rxf3 exf3 34.Rg1 Ne7 35.f5
35.Re1 Re2 36.Rxe2 fxe2 37.Qxe2 is also good.
35...c6 36.fxg6 Re2!
Resourceful as ever. If White captures the a-pawn, Black has counterplay:37.Qxa7 Rbb2 Or 37.Qa3 Rf8 38.Qxa7 Rh8 39.Qc7 Ra8.
37.Rh1! 1-0
The clearest way to a win.
Now Black is lost as shown by the following continuations :

• 37...Rbb2 38.Rh7+ Kf8 (38...Kxg6? 39.Rxe7) 39.Rf7+ Ke8 40.Qxa7+-
• 37...Kxg6 38.Qd3+ Nf5 39.Qxf3 Rbb2 (39...Re4 40.Qh5+ Kf6 41.Rg1 Rxd4 42.Qg5+ Ke6 43.f4 Rf8 44.Qg6+ Kd7 45.Rb1) 40.Qh5+ Kf6 41.Qh8+ Ke6 42.Qc8+ Kf6 43.Qxc6+ Kg5 44.Qxd5+-
• 37...Rh8 38.Rxh8 Kxh8 39.Qxa7 Kg7 40.Qc7+- Re4 41.a4 Kxg6 42.a5 Kf7 43.a6+-
• 37...Rf8 38.Qxa7 Kxg6 39.Qc7+-

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