Kenilworth Kibitzer

Recently, I started seeing this more and more in my bullet games. Often enough to the point where I actually looked it up- before you even posted this. I checked my database to see how frequently this is played…which isn’t much…it says 2. a3 is played more than 2.Bc4. Curiously, I googled it and saw two forums right off the bat. One on chesspub.com. And the other on chess.com. Both have recent posts- from Dec. or Nov. It’s interesting how certain moves become popular out of nowhere. Especially when they are bad moves. Plenty of blogs, but no books.


Courtesy of Wikipedia…

2.Bc4 (the Bowdler [I have also seen it spelled Bowlder] Attack), though once played at the highest level, is popular today only among club players or beginners who are unfamiliar with the Sicilian and are looking either to attack the weak f7 pawn or to prepare for a quick kingside castle. However, after a move such as 2...e6, Black will soon play ...d5 and open up the centre while gaining time by attacking the bishop. Anderssen-Wyvill, London 1851 continued 2..e6 3.Nc3 a6 4.a4 Nc6 5.d3 g6 6.Nge2 Bg7 7.0-0 Nge7 8.f4 0-0 9.Bd2 d5 10.Bb3 Nd4 11.Nxd4, and now Soltis recommends 11...cxd4! 12.Ne2 Bd7![57]
 

Thanks, that sounds about right.

Ian
 

Great minds think alike! I am also reading Bronstein's book on Zurich. I got a copy on Amazon in new condition for about $5.00. He explains stuff to ordinary players, and doesn't bog you down with too many variations.

Game 9 between Geller and Euwe is extremely interesting. Euwe sacrifices a rook to deflect Geller's queen from defense of the king, and wins a brilliant victory. Over the folllowing 10 days or so, the game was analyzed by several of the resident grandmasters (Bronstein, Keres. Smyslov, Najdorf,etc.) for many hours and it was finally concluded Geller missed a move that may have held. Bronstein noted it was not possible for Geller to find such a move over the board.

This sounds like the same type of lame excuse today's players make when Fritz points out they missed a forced win via a simple 57 move combination. I personally am very disappointed in Efim.

Lou