Correspondence chess: Yakov Estrin - Hans Berliner 1965

Estrin,Y - Berliner,H [C57], corr-Wch5, 1965: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 b5 6.Bf1 Nd4 7.c3 Nxd5 8.Ne4 Qh4 9.Ng3 Bg4 10.f3 e4 11.cxd4 Bd6 12.Bxb5+ Kd8 13.0-0 exf3 14.Rxf3 Rb8 15.Be2 Bxf3 16.Bxf3 Qxd4+ 17.Kh1 Bxg3 18.hxg3 Rb6 19.d3 Ne3 20.Bxe3 Qxe3 21.Bg4 h5 22.Bh3 g5 23.Nd2 g4 24.Nc4 Qxg3 25.Nxb6 gxh3 26.Qf3 hxg2+ 27.Qxg2 Qxg2+ 28.Kxg2 cxb6 29.Rf1 Ke7 30.Re1+ Kd6 31.Rf1 Rc8 32.Rxf7 Rc7 33.Rf2 Ke5 34.a4 Kd4 35.a5 Kxd3 36.Rf3+ Kc2 37.b4 b5 38.a6 Rc4 39.Rf7 Rxb4 40.Rb7 Rg4+ 41.Kf3 b4 42.Rxa7 b3 0-1


This game I first fell upon reading this interview with the 10th US CC champion Jon Edwards at Jon Knudsen's Correspondence Chess Place. It's a very interesting interview with some good insight into the CC players mind, and also some funny anecdotes. I can heartily recommend reading it. Now, to the game at hand. It is an absolute gem, with very sharp play and lots of chances to go wrong on both sides. I remember being absolutely stunned by black's aggressive handling of this opening, which could have evolved into a regular Two Knight's Defense, with theory that would seem to be exhausted, were it not for ingenious players like Berliner coming up with something entirely new.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 b5



The position after black's 5...b5

This move, 5...b5 introduces what is know as the Ulvestad (or the Fritz-Ulvestad) variation. A very appealing move, at once lighting up the board in a mystical and sharp light. This is the type of move that reminds one of romantic chess times,when daring sacrifices and bold, perhaps unsound play, was the most respected. Personally, I can't help but play such a move as this if given the opportunity.

Accepting the pawn by 6. Bxb5 leads to 6...Qxd5, threatening the g2-square. Also, 6. xc6 xc4 is good for black, as the white c6-pawn can hardly be held on to. Neither can the black c4-pawn, I would think, but it is perhaps easier to defend than white's.

6. Bf1 is sensible, protecting the g2-square, and preparing Nc3 on Qxd5. 6...Nd4! 7. c3 Nxd5! 8.Ne4 Qh4 9.Ng3 (if xd4 Qxd4+ is nice for black) ... Bg4



The position after black's ninth move, Bg4.

The battle has intensified even further, with even the slightest misstep meaning certain death - probably on both sides! The beauty of it is that the attack seems to flow so effortlessly when we play through it now, making move after move, maybe glancing at the board for 10-15 seconds, a little bewildered and perhaps puzzled - but imagine the strenous process both Estrin and Berliner were going through, researching move after move, deeper and deeper, never being 100% certain that their assessments were correct. It is just this polarity I love in chess: the finished product - the game - always seems so easy and without trouble, while we all know that it is a painful process from the first move to the last, with intense research and mental activity, almost to the point where we'd rather fling the pieces off the board and go to sleep than make the next, uncertain move.

10. f3 e4! This surprise was Berliner's secret, his creation for this game, and for his opponent Estrin, known to be an expert in the Two Knights Defense.

11. cxd4 Bd6 - this move by black might be my favourite in the whole game. It is seemingly quiet, and at the surface it doesn't seem to do very much for black's attack. But this is a move that shows the depth of Berliner's calculations, his insight into what he had created on the board. A very beautiful and noteworthy move that should be studied carefully.

12. Bxb5+ Kd8 13. O-O exf6 14. Rxf3



The position after white's 14. Rxf3

14...Rb8 - a very nice and attractive way to activate the a8-rook. 15. Be2 Bxf3 16. Bxf3 Qxd4+ 17. Kh1 Bxg3 - another good move, weakening white's king side even further. 18. hxg3 Rb6 - threatening the simple Rh6, loosing the game for white. Estrin must at all cost find ways to protect against the rook coming to h6 19. d3 Ne3 20. Bxe3 Qxe3 21. Bg4 - getting the bishop ready to go to h3, blocking the black rook, since h6 isn't protected anymore. 21...h5! - immediately attacking the bishop, gaining more space and momentum for the attack. 22. Bh3 g5 23. Nd2 g4



The position after black's 23...g4

Not minding the fork at c4, Berliner keeps up the immense pressure and plays 23...g4! An admirable move, giving me a feeling that just this development has been in the mind of Berliner all along. 24. Nc4 Qxg3 25. Nxb6 gxh3 26. Qf3 hxg2+ 27. Qxg2 Qxg2 28. Kxg2 cxb6 - connecting the pawns once again and leading white straight into a lost endgame. This is where one has to know how to win a won position ("from this point it is simply a matter of technique"), and Berliner demonstrates very well. Especially the activity of the black king to come is admirable. 29. Rf1 Ke7 30. Re1+ Kd6 31. Rf1 Rc8 32. Rxf7 Rc7 33. Rf2 Ke5 34. a4 Kd4 35. a5



The position after white's 35. a5

35...Kxd3 - the black king is now the most powerful piece on the board. One can feel its dominance, picturing the white pawns just falling off the board. The white rook bleakens in its presence, controlling the whole of white's queen side. 36. Rf3+ Kc2 37. b4 b5 38. a6 Rc4 39. Rf7 Rxb4 40. Rb7 Rg4+ 41. Kf3 b4 42. Rxa7 b3



The position after black's final move, 42...b3

White resigned here, as black's b pawn can no longer be stopped in any sensible way. A very instructive ending, of a type I very much appreciate. It is great seeing the king become such an aggressor, influencing the whole way the game is played.

This is the type of game that can not be marred by computer analysts screaming up: "I have found improvements! White can save the game here, Black has obviously over-estimated his attack!" This was a grandiose battle between two human minds. Probably both of them failed in choosing the "objectively correct" path during the game, but this fact is what makes chess such an intriguing game for humans. As a further comment on this I would like to quote a user named "nasmichael" on Chessgames.com, kibitzing about this game:

The "passion" of the players in this game far outweighs the analysis of the fritz-calculators. The essence of the game is far more than their move choices. It is exciting to watch. It was surely exciting to play. This correspondence game (please put yourself in the players' shoes) was a tough fight. Imagine getting the response to one of these moves in the mail, going to your board, studying the possibilities, weighing your options. Imagine sleeping on a move, placing the stamp on the letter, making sure you have not made some typographical error, making sure your analysis is sound, that you have not made some simple blunder in judgement or observation. Error or no, this game is an example of two top CC players doing their best to win. It feels like a fearless match. You as player can choose to enjoy it, or play through another. We as chess players and fans have too many games to choose from to argue one move over another; we are fortunate to have so many examples of good games. I have to say I have not seen a game like this, but thanks to those players who have offered up examples of such fighting passion, and quest for chess truth.

For further analysis and comment, a quick google search for "Berliner Estrin 1965" or something similar will be sufficient. There are also a lot of interesting comments on this game at Chessgames.com. This is a game that can be studied and appreciated for hours upon hours. I have not gone to great lenghts in my analysis, and there is a simple reason behind this: this is a game I find so mystical and beautiful I'd rather not know the "better" moves or the gruelling mistakes. There are not many games of chess I would rather leave alone than to start looking into, but this is one such example. I hope everyone has one or two or five of these games that they simply love for their sheer artistry.