[Event "U.S. Masters"] [Site "Chicago, USA"] [Date "1997.03.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Tate, Emory"] [Black "Yudasin, Leonid"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B86"] [WhiteElo "2400"] [BlackElo "2600"] [Annotator "Daaim Shabazz"] [PlyCount "71"] [EventDate "1997.??.??"] {Notes by Daaim Shabazz. This will be a unique assembly of viewpoints on Tate's classic game. It has been the subject of analysis and several players have attempted to peer into the nuance of this spectular attacking display. IM Jack Peters' version was published in the July 1997 issue of Chess Life. FM Jon Jacobs revisited the game in the December 2008 Chess Life. The first set was not done in the era of powerful chess engines and contained some inaccuracies. After Tate's demis in October 2015, we had at our disposal top chess program topping 3300 rating. Both Larry Christiansen and Daniel Naroditsky gave keen introspective to this landmark game. Thus, we will see a compilation of these analyses here. Tate has shown this game a number of times and it was possibly his best game to show. Naroditsky referred to Tate by the Russian word "tvorets," someone who keeps the beauty of our game alive, inspiring us to follow in his footsteps." Indeed this is a game for the ages.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 {Tate was a bonafide Sicilian-killer, but he did so by taking the challenge and not avoid it with 2. c3 or 2.Nc3.} d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 {[#] This was a line Bobby Fischer had used to stretch boundaries of theory in the late 60s. Peters stated, "It suits Tate's ferocious style perfectly." Indeed. Out of ten games against the Najdorf, Tate played Bc4 seven times, Qf3 twice and Be3 once. Naroditsky further explains the subtleties of the move, "By developing his light-squared bishop, White applies immediate pressure on the f7 pawn and essentially compels Black to adopt a Scheveningen structure with ...e7-e6. Not only will Black constantly have to worry about the possibility of a piece sacrifice on e6, he will also have to deal with the eventual threat of an f-pawn advance to f5. Of course, all of this comes at a price: White will have to spend a tempo to ensure the safety of his bishop, and Black can frequently develop serious queenside counterplay that counteracts (or even dwarfs) White's kingside play."} e6 7. Bb3 {The key improvement here is to ensure that the bishop does not get hit with a timely ...b5. There are 14,285 games in Megabase 2016 with the first occurrence in 1937!} (7. O-O {is the second most popular line with the classic game by Soviet star Khenkin. He scored a blistering attacking game after} Qc7 8. Bb3 Nc6 9. Be3 Bd7 10. f4 Na5 11. Qf3 Be7 12. Rad1 O-O 13. g4 Nxb3 14. axb3 Bc6 15. g5 Nd7 16. Qh5 g6 17. Qh6 Rfe8 18. Rf3 Bf8 19. Qh4 Qd8 20. Rh3 h5 21. f5 exf5 22. exf5 d5 23. Ne6 $3 {[#]} Rxe6 24. fxe6 fxe6 25. Ne2 e5 26. Ng3 Bg7 27. Nxh5 gxh5 28. Qxh5 Nf8 29. Rf1 Qc7 30. Bc5 Bb5 31. Rxf8+ Rxf8 32. Qh7+ Kf7 33. Rf3+ Ke8 34. Rxf8+ {[#] 1-0 (34) Khenkin, A-Shishov,M Riga 1954}) 7... Nbd7 {In the 1990s, Peters points out that 7... Nbd7 had become popular because Black maintains the flexibility to meet White's central control. Naroditsky cites GM Mikhail Golubev's well-known monograph on the Sozin and explains that Black's pending ...Nc5 move comes with some risks of delaying the kingside thus leaving the king in the center.} (7... b5 {is not longer advised. White's improvement of 7.Bb3 becomes evident since Black does not win a tempo. After} 8. O-O Be7 {with} 9. Qf3 $5 {allows White fast mobility. Black now has to be wary of sacrificial ideas on e6.}) 8. Qe2 $5 {[#] This move has had mixed results with Black doing well. The point here is to support a e5 thrust after f4. Quite dangerous.} ({Peters points out that on} 8. f4 Nc5 {a number of options including} 9. e5 (9. f5) (9. Qf3 {but Black is standing well in that theoretical debate.})) 8... Nc5 9. g4 $5 {Naroditsky eloquently explains, "While this move meets with opprobrium from the computer, it is a worthy practical try that faces Black with serious tactical difficulties. White makes no attempt to mask his intentions: he wants to chase away the knight with g4-g5, and either continue along the same line with f4-f5, or plant a smoldering piece on d5." Tate was also known for his Nd5, Nf5 sacrifices which FM Todd Andrews calls the "Tateshinkai Attack."} ({Peters offers that} 9. Bg5 Be7 10. f4 h6 11. Bxf6 Bxf6 12. O-O-O Qc7 {which gives Black about even chances in a sharp position. A recent example confirms this after} 13. Kb1 Bd7 14. Rhe1 O-O 15. g4 Qb6 16. e5 dxe5 17. fxe5 Bh4 18. Rg1 Bc6 {1/2-1/2 (18) Nisipeanu,L (2681)-Sutovsky,E (2657) Wijk aan Zee 2010}) 9... b5 {Black must react quickly. It is interesting that usually one would counter a flank attack by a central thrust, but Yudasin tries a flank attack of his own. The central thrust of} (9... e5 $6 10. Nf5 g6 11. Ne3 (11. g5 $2 Nfxe4 $1) 11... Bh6 $1 $11 (11... Ncxe4 12. Nxe4 Nxe4 13. Qc4 $1 $14)) ({Christiansen points out that maybe Tate would go for} 9... h6 10. g5 $5 hxg5 11. Bxg5 Be7 12. h4 {when the tempting} Nfxe4 13. Nxe4 Bxg5 14. Nxg5 Qxg5 15. hxg5 Rxh1+ 16. Kd2 Rxa1 { comes up short after} 17. Nf5 $1) 10. g5 Nfd7 {The game should settle down here into a traditional fight with 11.f4, right?} 11. Bd5 $5 $146 {[#] This was a novelty at the time and there are five games listed including Fierro-Bruzon occurring a month later at the 1997 Capablanca Memorial in Cienfuegos, Cuba! Tate violently forces the issue and uncorks one of the many sacrifices on the d5-square. According to FM Jon Jacobs, Tate thought on this move for 40 minutes. This move must've sent shockwaves through the experienced Grandmaster.} Bb7 {Yudasin declines but Christiansen states (and engines confirm) that} (11... exd5 12. Nc6 Qb6 13. exd5+ Ne5 14. f4 (14. Nxe5 dxe5 15. Qxe5+ Kd8 16. Be3 {Peters gives this as good for white, but engines give the edge after} Qd6 17. Qd4 Bf5 $17) 14... Bg4 15. Qe3 Ncd3+ (15... Ncd7 16. fxe5 Qxe3+ 17. Bxe3 Nxe5 18. Nxe5 dxe5 19. Rg1 Bh5 {0-1 (41) Fierro Baquero,M (2205) -Bruzon Batista,L Cienfuegos 1997}) 16. cxd3 Qxe3+ 17. Bxe3 Nxd3+ (17... Nxc6 $6) 18. Kd2 Nxb2 $15 {This evaluation is based on black's pawn advantage, two bishops and more fluid pawn structure. Naroditsky adds that after} 19. Rae1 Kd7 20. Kc2 Nc4 {Black's position is "easier to play" with pending threats of ... h6 and ...Bg4-f3xd5.}) 12. Bxb7 Nxb7 13. a4 bxa4 {Peters suggest that Black must accept the a-pawn, but it appears} (13... b4 14. Nd5 $1 a5 {with unclear complications although such a position would be unpleasant for Black to play.} (14... exd5 $4 15. Nc6 Qc7 16. exd5+ Ne5 17. f4 $16)) 14. Rxa4 {As Christiansen calls it, "a natural move for Mr. Tate." Certainly, Tate was very fond of his rook lifts as evidenced by the theme in a number of his games. In fact a variation named after him features a rook lift on move 5! A grim prognosis was given by Naroditsky: "Although Black's position may seem quite tenable at first sight, he is actually in deep trouble. First of all, he is now permanently saddled with a dreadfully weak a6 pawn, and the idea of b2-b4 is constantly looming in the air. More importantly, though, his king will never find a safe home: staying in the center allows the possibilities of Nd5 and Nf5, while castling short may end in calamity if White orchestrates a rook lift and doubles on the h-file. In other words, Black is in a lose-lose situation, and you did not want to end up in a lose-lose tactical situation against Emory Tate." Yudasin must've had a feeling something bad was about to happen. Notice that Tate is not worried about this king safety since White's dominant position precludes such a thought.} Nbc5 15. Ra3 {It is obvious now that this rook will be employed in a similar manner as the rook in the Tate Variation ... along the 3rd rank.} Qb6 $1 {Black refuses to sit back and be totally crushed.} (15... g6 16. O-O Bg7 17. Rd1 Qc8 $1 (17... O-O $2 18. b4 $1 Nb7 19. Rxa6 $16) 18. b4 Nb7 {and the game is on.}) 16. O-O (16. Nd5 $6 { gets White nowhere after} exd5 17. exd5+ Ne5 18. f4 Qb4+ 19. c3 Ncd3+ 20. Kd2 Qb7 $1 $11) 16... Be7 {It appears that Black is slipping away and the pieces are becoming mobilized. The position is not easy to play for Black, but White's king will need shelter soon. Naroditsky notices Tate's keen insight and the aforementioned king safety. "At this point, Emory was undoubtedly tempted by the possibilities of Nf5 and Nd5, both of which deserve serious consideration but do not bring White more than a small advantage. And yet, in the best spirit of a true tvorets, he channels his inner Petrosian."} 17. Kh1 $1 {This move is two-fold: it increases king safety and now makes the g-file available for a rook battering ram. According to Sun Tzu, when you have your opponent cornered, you should allow a way out so that they will lose their ambition to fight to the death. Yudasin now castles.} O-O 18. b4 $1 {Incisive! Now tremendous energy envelopes the board as White's pieces begin to form into a violent vortex.} ({Peters adds that} 18. f4 {is also good, but the text move creates more apprehension. It also disguises the ensuing kingside assault.}) 18... Na4 {Of course not} (18... Qxb4 $4 19. Nc6 {winning a piece.}) (18... Nb7 19. Be3 (19. Nf5 $5) 19... Qc7 20. Rfa1 Nb8 {is what Naroditsky calls an "apocalypic wasteland" with} 21. Qg4 {in play.}) 19. Nf5 $1 {[#] Tateshinkai! Another standard sacrifice in the Sicilian and one of Tate's favorites. The issue is not whether to sacrifice, but when! This bold stroke takes advantage of confusion in Black's camp. Yudasin is being assailed on both sides of the board and can no longer hold it together.} exf5 $8 (19... Bd8 20. Nxa4 { and white nets a piece as does}) (19... Nxc3 20. Nxe7+ Kh8 21. Rxc3) 20. Nd5 { The second Tateshinkai strike!} Qd8 21. exf5 {Tate presses on! He isn't interested in regaining material balance. In fact,} (21. Rxa4 {would pull his rook out of its optimal attacking position. Furthermore, why sacrifice material if the main purpose is to regain equality? There would be a rude shock after} Nb6 22. Nxb6 Qxb6 23. exf5 $4 {tossing a rook after} Qc6+) 21... Re8 $6 {Naroditsky offers the alternative} (21... Bxg5 22. Bxg5 Qxg5 23. Rg1 Qh6 $1 {He was not impressed with White's dominating knight on d5 and the open g-file due to} 24. Rxa4 Kh8 25. Rxa6 Rxa6 26. Qxa6 Qd2 $1) 22. Qh5 $5 {When this move is played in a game, as Black you feel a sense of mortal danger and the instinct to react quickly is strong. With the pending Rh3, the Godzilla knight at d5 and the pawn steamroller, Black has to prepare to give back material to survive.} Nab6 $2 {Noooo!!! Yudasin choses to keep material instead of throwing obstacles in the way. Christiansen gives the following alternatives:} (22... g6 23. fxg6 {is only a slight edge after} fxg6 (23... hxg6 24. Qh4 Bf8 25. Nf6+ Nxf6 26. gxf6 Re5 27. Rh3 $1 Rh5 28. Qxh5 $3 { Naroditsky}) 24. Qh3 Bxg5 (24... Nab6 25. Nxb6 Qxb6 26. Qxd7 $14) 25. f4 { Better is} Bh4 (25... Be7 $2 26. Rxa4 $18 {"Black's position is a trainwreck," says Christiansen.}) 26. Qb3 $14) 23. Rh3 {[#] As Morpheus said in the movie the "Matrix" ... "Here we go!"} Nf8 24. f6 $3 {Tate burns his bridges and offers another piece. He is going all-out! One may believe that this is the most intuitive reply for attacking players. However, the follow-up is stunning. } Nxd5 {Peters demonstrates that by eliminating the pawn does no good...} ({On } 24... gxf6 $4 25. gxf6 Bxf6 {White clinches victory by} 26. Rg1+ Bg7 (26... Kh8 27. Qxf7 {White mates on g8 or h7.}) 27. Bb2 Re5 28. Rxg7+ Kxg7 29. Qh6+ Kg8 ({or} 29... Kh8 30. Nf6 {mating.}) 30. Bxe5 f6 ({Hopeless is} 30... dxe5 31. Nf6+) 31. Bxf6 Qd7 32. Rg3+ Ng6 33. Nxb6 Qb7+ 34. Kg1) 25. fxg7 (25. fxe7 $4 {ruins the party.} Qxe7 26. g6 Nf6 $19) 25... Kxg7 ({On} 25... f5 {Black is still busted after} 26. gxf8=Q+ Kxf8 27. Qxh7 Bxg5 28. Qxf5+ Qf6 29. Qxd5 $18) 26. Bb2+ Kg8 ({After} 26... f6 27. Rg1 $1 Kh8 28. gxf6 Bxf6 29. Qf7 $1 { with mate in one.}) 27. g6 $1 {[#] Christiansen described this as a "bone crusher" that had to be foreseen many moves before. He speculates that Tate must've seen patterns forming around 23.Rh3. Naroditsky gives this "!!" Here Black can capture in three ways but all get mated in short order.} Bf6 (27... hxg6 28. Qh8#) (27... fxg6 28. Qxd5+ Ne6 29. Qxe6+ Kf8 30. Rxh7 {with mate to follow.}) (27... Nxg6 28. Qxh7+ Kf8 29. Bg7#) 28. gxf7+ Kh8 29. Rg1 $6 ({ A slight inaccuracy. White could deliver the coup de grace with} 29. Qg5 $1 Ne6 30. Qg6 Ng5 31. fxe8=Q+ Qxe8 32. Bxf6+ Nxf6 33. Qxf6+ Kg8 34. Qxg5+ $18) 29... Re1 {One cannot give this an "!" but it's the last trick.} 30. Rxe1 Bxb2 31. Re8 {Threatening 32.Qxh7 mate.} Nf6 32. Rxd8 Rxd8 ({Also} 32... Nxh5 33. Rxa8 Nf4 34. Rg3 Bg7 35. Rxf8+ $1 Bxf8 36. Rg8#) 33. Qh6 {with the idea of 34.c3.} Ne4 ({If} 33... Ng4 34. Qg5 Nf6 {then} 35. c3 N8d7 36. Rg3 {mates.}) 34. Qh4 $1 Nf6 35. Rg3 {Setting up 36.Qxf6+ Bxf6 37.Rg8 mate.} N8d7 {Most lethal is} 36. Qg5 $1 {[#] This is perhaps Tate's more famous win and he would show the game (including in Russian and Spanish) throughout his career. It is indeed a gem!} 1-0