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Re: [Gorris and Chess] The text OnLine
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Correction: The R mate only works if White moves the Bishop off of the
d1-h5 diagonal (oops...)
On Sun, Mar 18, 2012 at 11:25 PM, Steve Norquist <stevenorquist@gmail.com>wrote:
> It certainly was a fine ending for "Luzhin." Jon Speelman is a well-known
> endgame specialist. Incidentally, if White does not play 47.gxh3, Black has
> ...Rh5 mate as well as ...h6 mate.
>
>
> On Sun, Mar 18, 2012 at 11:23 AM, Jansy <jansy@aetern.us> wrote:
>
>> **
>>
>> *In Search of Luzhin's Defence
>> *
>>
>> Many chess players have no doubt seen *The Luzhin Defence<http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0211492/>
>> *, a movie based off the novel (of the same name) by *Vladimir Nabokov*.
>> In viewing this movie, one cannot help but to feel empathy for the main
>> character *Alexander Ivanovich Luzhin, *an eccentric Russian Grandmaster
>> played credibly by *John Turturro*. As a young boy, Luzhin lived a life
>> of privilege, but also one filled with contradictions and personal
>> challenges. He had one escape from the confusion that swirled around his
>> life… chess.
>> [image: John Turturro as Alexander Ivanovich Luzhin in 'The Luzhin
>> Defense']
>>
>> *John Turturro as "Alexander Luzhin"
>> *
>>
>> Set in the 1920s era, Luzhin travels to Italy to compete in
>> a top tournament billed as the equivalence of the World Championship. He
>> meets a woman named *Natalia Kutkov* (played by *Emily Watson*) with
>> whom he falls in love and to whom he proposes marriage. The entire story
>> would unfold and a number of personal challenges beset a troubled Luzhin:
>> memories of a neglectful childhood, Natalia's mother's opposition to the
>> proposal and an exploitive acquaintance from the past.
>>
>> One of the most intense moments came when Luzhin faced *Dottore Turati*,
>> an Italian Grandmaster played by *Fabio Sartor*. Both had won their
>> respective groups and would face off in the grand finalé… the winner would
>> be the World Champion. The game started off *1.Nf3 d5 *and after a
>> positional battle, both players got into intense time pressure. The Dutch
>> director *Marleen Gorris *was able to catch the emotions of the two
>> players and some very interesting board angles.
>>
>> In the time scramble, the position in diagram #1 occurred. Turati had
>> just played Ne5 and had the advantage. Both players had a couple minutes
>> left and were feverishly blitzing out moves. The game continued 37… Rd2
>> 38.Nxd7+ Rxd7 39.Kf2 Bc5 (threatening Nxf4) 40.Kf3. Luzhin paused, blitzed
>> out 40… Re7 and pounded the clock. Turati played 41.Rc1 followed by
>> Luzhin's 41…a6!? After 42.Nc3 Luzhin maniacally slammed *42...Nxf4!? *on
>> the board after which Turati played 43.exf4 (diagram #2).
>> [image: The Luzhin Defense - diagram #1] [image: The Luzhin
>> Defense - diagram #2 (adjourned postion)]
>>
>> *Diagram #1
>> **(time scramble)
>> *
>>
>> *Diagram #2
>> **(adjourned position)
>> *
>>
>> As Luzhin calculated the position, variations flashed about
>> the board. Luzhin seemed to be searching for something more than a move…
>> perhaps answers to his life. While at the board, Luzhin had an epiphany of
>> his deceased parents and his beloved aunt. During these visions, Luzhin
>> lost track of the game and his flag fell before his 43rd move (diagram #2).
>> They would adjourn the game and play the secondary time control the next
>> day. Spectators could be heard saying that Luzhin's position was
>> practically hopeless.
>>
>> What would happen next is sheer tragedy. After suffering a complete
>> breakdown, being told never to play chess again, and later being detoured
>> from his wedding, Luzhin lost himself and leaped from a window to "escape"
>> from the troubled past. Now with Luzhin dead, there would be no completion
>> of the match. While searching Luzhin's suit coat, wife Natalia found his
>> adjourned moves. After realizing what she had found, Natalia contacted the
>> tournament officials and requested to play the moves posthumously for her
>> husband.
>>
>> Natalia entered the hall with a demure and confident look. She took her
>> seat and the game continued, 43… Re3+ (sealed move) 44.Kg4 f5+ 45.Kg5 Kg7!
>> (threatening Be7 mate) 46.Nd5 (diagram #3). Using the sheet of paper with
>> "Luzhin's Defence," Natalia picked up the rook, played *46…Rh3!! *and
>> looked at Turati before releasing the piece. After 47.gxh3 (else 47…h6 is
>> checkmate), Black triumphed with 47…h6+ 48.Kh4 Bf2 mate!! (diagram #4) This
>> is what Luzhin was so happy about only moments before his initial
>> emotional breakdown. A satisfying ending!
>> [image: The Luzhin Defense - diagram #3 (Luzhin finds 46...Rh3!!)] [image:
>> The Luzhin Defense - diagram #4 (after 48...Bf2 mate!)]
>>
>> *Diagram #3
>> **(Luzhin finds 46…Rh3!!)
>> *
>>
>> *Diagram #4
>> **(final position)
>> *
>>
>> The movie is one a chess player can certainly appreciate and
>> is crafted for a mature audience. The chess scenes were realistic (thanks
>> to the film's chess advisor English GM *Jonathan Speelman*) and the
>> movie set captured the 1920s prestige of the chess circuit. Some viewers
>> have even noted a resemblance to Alekhine-Capablanca, but one thing is
>> certain the movie is just as much a lesson in triumph in values as it is
>> triumph over the chess board. Other chess movies such as "Fresh" and
>> "Searching for Bobby Fischer" have similar characteristics. "The Luzhin
>> Defense" is certainly worth seeing as mere words cannot even begin to
>> capture its resplendent craftsmanship. Well done!
>>
>> *Dr. Daaim Shabazz, The Chess Drum <http://www.thechessdrum.net/>
>> *
>>
>> *Posted by The Chess Drum <http://www.thechessdrum.net/>: 30 September
>> 2003*
>> Google Search the archive<http://www.google.com/advanced_search?q=site:listserv.ucsb.edu&HL=en> Contact
>> the Editors <nabokv-l@utk.edu,nabokv-l@holycross.edu> Visit "Nabokov
>> Online Journal" <http://www.nabokovonline.com> Visit Zembla<http://www.libraries.psu.edu/nabokov/zembla.htm> View
>> Nabokv-L Policies <http://web.utk.edu/%7Esblackwe/EDNote.htm> Manage
>> subscription options <http://listserv.ucsb.edu/> Visit AdaOnline<http://www.ada.auckland.ac.nz/> View
>> NSJ Ada Annotations <http://vnjapan.org/main/ada/index.html> Temporary
>> L-Soft Search the archive<https://listserv.ucsb.edu/lsv-cgi-bin/wa?A0=NABOKV-L&X=58B9943B29972AFF64&Y=nabokv-l%40utk.edu>
>>
>> ****All private editorial communications are read by both co-editors.
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Norky
>
--
Norky
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d1-h5 diagonal (oops...)
On Sun, Mar 18, 2012 at 11:25 PM, Steve Norquist <stevenorquist@gmail.com>wrote:
> It certainly was a fine ending for "Luzhin." Jon Speelman is a well-known
> endgame specialist. Incidentally, if White does not play 47.gxh3, Black has
> ...Rh5 mate as well as ...h6 mate.
>
>
> On Sun, Mar 18, 2012 at 11:23 AM, Jansy <jansy@aetern.us> wrote:
>
>> **
>>
>> *In Search of Luzhin's Defence
>> *
>>
>> Many chess players have no doubt seen *The Luzhin Defence<http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0211492/>
>> *, a movie based off the novel (of the same name) by *Vladimir Nabokov*.
>> In viewing this movie, one cannot help but to feel empathy for the main
>> character *Alexander Ivanovich Luzhin, *an eccentric Russian Grandmaster
>> played credibly by *John Turturro*. As a young boy, Luzhin lived a life
>> of privilege, but also one filled with contradictions and personal
>> challenges. He had one escape from the confusion that swirled around his
>> life… chess.
>> [image: John Turturro as Alexander Ivanovich Luzhin in 'The Luzhin
>> Defense']
>>
>> *John Turturro as "Alexander Luzhin"
>> *
>>
>> Set in the 1920s era, Luzhin travels to Italy to compete in
>> a top tournament billed as the equivalence of the World Championship. He
>> meets a woman named *Natalia Kutkov* (played by *Emily Watson*) with
>> whom he falls in love and to whom he proposes marriage. The entire story
>> would unfold and a number of personal challenges beset a troubled Luzhin:
>> memories of a neglectful childhood, Natalia's mother's opposition to the
>> proposal and an exploitive acquaintance from the past.
>>
>> One of the most intense moments came when Luzhin faced *Dottore Turati*,
>> an Italian Grandmaster played by *Fabio Sartor*. Both had won their
>> respective groups and would face off in the grand finalé… the winner would
>> be the World Champion. The game started off *1.Nf3 d5 *and after a
>> positional battle, both players got into intense time pressure. The Dutch
>> director *Marleen Gorris *was able to catch the emotions of the two
>> players and some very interesting board angles.
>>
>> In the time scramble, the position in diagram #1 occurred. Turati had
>> just played Ne5 and had the advantage. Both players had a couple minutes
>> left and were feverishly blitzing out moves. The game continued 37… Rd2
>> 38.Nxd7+ Rxd7 39.Kf2 Bc5 (threatening Nxf4) 40.Kf3. Luzhin paused, blitzed
>> out 40… Re7 and pounded the clock. Turati played 41.Rc1 followed by
>> Luzhin's 41…a6!? After 42.Nc3 Luzhin maniacally slammed *42...Nxf4!? *on
>> the board after which Turati played 43.exf4 (diagram #2).
>> [image: The Luzhin Defense - diagram #1] [image: The Luzhin
>> Defense - diagram #2 (adjourned postion)]
>>
>> *Diagram #1
>> **(time scramble)
>> *
>>
>> *Diagram #2
>> **(adjourned position)
>> *
>>
>> As Luzhin calculated the position, variations flashed about
>> the board. Luzhin seemed to be searching for something more than a move…
>> perhaps answers to his life. While at the board, Luzhin had an epiphany of
>> his deceased parents and his beloved aunt. During these visions, Luzhin
>> lost track of the game and his flag fell before his 43rd move (diagram #2).
>> They would adjourn the game and play the secondary time control the next
>> day. Spectators could be heard saying that Luzhin's position was
>> practically hopeless.
>>
>> What would happen next is sheer tragedy. After suffering a complete
>> breakdown, being told never to play chess again, and later being detoured
>> from his wedding, Luzhin lost himself and leaped from a window to "escape"
>> from the troubled past. Now with Luzhin dead, there would be no completion
>> of the match. While searching Luzhin's suit coat, wife Natalia found his
>> adjourned moves. After realizing what she had found, Natalia contacted the
>> tournament officials and requested to play the moves posthumously for her
>> husband.
>>
>> Natalia entered the hall with a demure and confident look. She took her
>> seat and the game continued, 43… Re3+ (sealed move) 44.Kg4 f5+ 45.Kg5 Kg7!
>> (threatening Be7 mate) 46.Nd5 (diagram #3). Using the sheet of paper with
>> "Luzhin's Defence," Natalia picked up the rook, played *46…Rh3!! *and
>> looked at Turati before releasing the piece. After 47.gxh3 (else 47…h6 is
>> checkmate), Black triumphed with 47…h6+ 48.Kh4 Bf2 mate!! (diagram #4) This
>> is what Luzhin was so happy about only moments before his initial
>> emotional breakdown. A satisfying ending!
>> [image: The Luzhin Defense - diagram #3 (Luzhin finds 46...Rh3!!)] [image:
>> The Luzhin Defense - diagram #4 (after 48...Bf2 mate!)]
>>
>> *Diagram #3
>> **(Luzhin finds 46…Rh3!!)
>> *
>>
>> *Diagram #4
>> **(final position)
>> *
>>
>> The movie is one a chess player can certainly appreciate and
>> is crafted for a mature audience. The chess scenes were realistic (thanks
>> to the film's chess advisor English GM *Jonathan Speelman*) and the
>> movie set captured the 1920s prestige of the chess circuit. Some viewers
>> have even noted a resemblance to Alekhine-Capablanca, but one thing is
>> certain the movie is just as much a lesson in triumph in values as it is
>> triumph over the chess board. Other chess movies such as "Fresh" and
>> "Searching for Bobby Fischer" have similar characteristics. "The Luzhin
>> Defense" is certainly worth seeing as mere words cannot even begin to
>> capture its resplendent craftsmanship. Well done!
>>
>> *Dr. Daaim Shabazz, The Chess Drum <http://www.thechessdrum.net/>
>> *
>>
>> *Posted by The Chess Drum <http://www.thechessdrum.net/>: 30 September
>> 2003*
>> Google Search the archive<http://www.google.com/advanced_search?q=site:listserv.ucsb.edu&HL=en> Contact
>> the Editors <nabokv-l@utk.edu,nabokv-l@holycross.edu> Visit "Nabokov
>> Online Journal" <http://www.nabokovonline.com> Visit Zembla<http://www.libraries.psu.edu/nabokov/zembla.htm> View
>> Nabokv-L Policies <http://web.utk.edu/%7Esblackwe/EDNote.htm> Manage
>> subscription options <http://listserv.ucsb.edu/> Visit AdaOnline<http://www.ada.auckland.ac.nz/> View
>> NSJ Ada Annotations <http://vnjapan.org/main/ada/index.html> Temporary
>> L-Soft Search the archive<https://listserv.ucsb.edu/lsv-cgi-bin/wa?A0=NABOKV-L&X=58B9943B29972AFF64&Y=nabokv-l%40utk.edu>
>>
>> ****All private editorial communications are read by both co-editors.
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Norky
>
--
Norky
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Visit Zembla: http://www.libraries.psu.edu/nabokov/zembla.htm
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