Kenilworth Kibitzer

In this game Stahlberg, who ended up as the 1953 Interzonal dead-ender (no shame given the company), is very close to the better side of a draw.  But Kotov finds a way to swindle him, and after the game it didn't matter whether he won by way of consummate skill or blatant blind luck (just like I did the other night in the club championship).  

Bronstein: ...it might seem that the maneuver ...Nd7-e5-f3+ could not be prevented.  Stahlberg dissipates that illusion by means of a forcing variation.

33. Nf4   Re8

34. Ne6+ Rxe6

35. dxe   Bxc3

36. exd7  Qxd7

So White has won the exchange but elects to immediately return it.  This was surprising to me, but looking at possible continuations should convince us that this is a case where the bishop is no worse than a rook.  Black's bishops have outstanding support points in the center, and the congestion of White's pieces combined with the exposure of his King make the exchange hard to keep.  A variation I made up to try to push the pawns and get room for the rooks illustrates this: 37. Rd1  Bd4  38. Kh2  Bf7  39. f3?!  Bh5  40. Qg2  exf3  41. Rxf3 Bxf3  =

37. h5     Bxe1

38. hxg6?!  Bc3    (38. Rxe1 looks better to me, but Stahlberg may have been playing to win)

39. gxh7  Rh8!

 

Bronstein: The game is about even here, and after 40. Kg2 and 41. Rh1, the draw would have been quite obvious.  But with his last move in tome-pressure, Stahlberg trustingly attacks the bishop, no doubt expecting that Black would find nothing better than 40. .... Bf6

40. Qe3?  Kg6!!  (A tragedy of the back rank, wherein the security of the king is worth more than a piece)

41. Rd1   Bd4

42. Qf4   Qxh7

43. Kf1    Qh1+

44. Ke2   Qh5+!   (provoking 45. g4 to head to a better endgame - 45. Kf1 is met by Qf3!)

45. g4     Qxg4+

46. Qxg4+ fxg4

47. Bxe4+  Kg5

Bronstein: Here's the rub: despite the bishops of opposite color, White has a lost game.  Let's see why: 

48. Rh1  Re8   (48. Bxb7?  Rb8  or  Rh2)

49. f3    b5!?    (Black creates an entry point for his rook, and only then pushes the g-pawn)

50. Kf1  bxc4

51. bxc4  g3

52. Rh7  Rb8!

53.  Bb7  Be5   

Bronstein:  Stahlberg...denies the black rook entry into his camp.  Were it not for the passed g-pawn, that might have been enough to save the game.

54. Kg2  Kf4

55. Rf7+  Ke3   (The decisive inroad by the black king).

56. f4     Bxf4

57. Re7+  Be5

58. Rf7  a5

59. a4   Kd4

60. Bd5  Rb2+

61. Kf1  Ra2       0-1

A high-class, creative swindle.