By Todd Bardwick. Special to the
News The Luzhin Defence, released in 2000 and based on the
book, The Defense, by Vladimir Nabokov, is one of Hollywood's best chess movies.
John Turturro portrays Alexander Luzhin, an eccentric genius and Russian
chess master whose unstable childhood had made him incapable of relating to
others.
Chess is Luzhin's only escape until he meets and falls in love with the
caring Natalia (Emily Watson) at an Italian resort where he is the favorite in a
prestigious chess championship.
This story of love and obsession features simultaneous chess exhibitions, a
blindfold exhibition, and a fabulous giant chess set on the lawn of the resort.
The final game between Turati and Luzhin is brilliantly played and realistic
from a chess perspective, thanks to British grandmaster Jon Speelman, the
movie's chess consultant.
Both players are in time pressure and neither is keeping score as they reach
time control at move 40. Luzhin's flag falls, but the tournament director notes
that they are past move 40 and asked Luzhin to seal a move and the game is
adjourned.
During the adjournment, Luzhin has a nervous breakdown, and after promising
that he will give up chess and marry Natalia, he is overcome by the pressure and
jumps out a window to his death.
While Natalia is grieving and packing his clothes, she finds a note in his
pocket with the winning variation from the adjourned position. Turati agrees to
let her finish the game using Luzhin's notes.
Luzhin
Turati
The game (from the movie) continued, 43 . . . Re3+ 44.Kg4 (44.Kf2 loses to 44
. . .Rxc3+) f5+ 45.Kg5 (45.Kh4 Be7 mate) 45 . . . Kg7 (threatening 46 . . . Be7
mate) 46.Nd5 Rh3!(a brilliant rook sacrifice threatening 47 . . . h6 mate)
47.gxh3 h6+48.Kh4 Bf2 mate
July 7, 2003
Todd Bardwick can be reached through www.ColoradoMasterChess.com
