Quintette of Queen’s endgames - Maróczy is the conductor
Submitted by on Sat, 08/30/2008 at 8:07am.
Géza Maróczy was the uncrowned King of Queen’s endgames. I’ll bring the news from 1925, I’ll browse in the „Magyar Sakkvilág” (Hungarian Chessworld) magazine. There are the commemorations for the 30th anniversary of Maróczy’s chessmaster title. These remarks was written in Hungarian, English, French and German languages. The FIDE president Dr. A. Rueb remarks in French. It’s very nice from Rueb that he made mention of two Hungarian geniuses Charousek and Breyer who didn’t reach his 30th year of their life.
Dr. Max Euwe remarks in German. The English Amos Burn chessmaster remarks in English, of course. Here is his remark:
„I think the appearance of the August number of your magazine calls for a few remarks from an Englishman with regard to your great Hungarian master, Géza Maróczy, for it will then be thirty years since he made his début in international chess by his splendid performance in winning the strong Amateur Tournament at Hastings – a result which led to his playing in his master’s tournament at Nuremburg the following year, when he accomplished the remarkable feat (for so inexperienced a player) of Carrying off the second prize, winning eight games, drawing nine, and losing only one (to Steinitz) since then he has won no fewer than six first prizes in master’s tournaments and two in tournaments of lesser importance. In the winter of 1922, after a short stay in Holland, he took up his residence at Hastings, where he remained for two years during which time he visited many chess clubs throughout England and by his charming personality became probably more popular than any foreign chess master who has ever visited this country. I hope that he may long continue to play in master’s tournaments and I’m glad to remember that it was in England that he first had an oppurtinity to show his worth.”
In the Queen’s endgames Maróczy was unsurpassable. In this August publication there are 4 Queen’s endgames: against Marshall (2), Mieses and Alekhine. The fifth Queen’s endgame is together the game against Bethbeder, it happened later, in 1930. After my article „Quartette of Hussars…” here is a Quintette of Queen’s endgames. Here is the possibility to learn it from Maróczy!
On the picture there are three Hungarian queens. These beauties were achieving the first three places in the selection of Miss „Anna Ball”. This event (Anna Ball) happens in each year in July at lake Balaton, in city Balatonfüred. At the end of Anna Ball this selection is the endgame. Which one is more beautiful: these girls or Maróczy’s Queen’s endgames? This is an unsettled question. But the Hungarian girls and the endgames of Maróczy they are mere the beauties. On this picture there is in middle the Queen of Ball, right the first lady of waiting, left the second lady of waiting. (In 29 July, 2008)
White’s last move 31. a2-a3 was a mistake, instead of it must have been b2-b3. Maróczy takes advantage of the opportunity unsurpassable. He takes in stalemate position the Black King and Queen.
This is the most difficult and longest Queen’s endgame of Maróczy at the Karlsbad Tournament in 1907:
13.Qg7!: This is the point of combination! The h6 pawn is undefended, because for h6 14.Qg4 mate. The f6 pawn also is undefended because for Qh4 14.g4+ wins the Queen. But insufficient is 13… f5, because after 14.Qxh7+ Kg5 15.Qg7+ White wins:
I. 15… Kh5 16.g4+ fxg4 17.fxg4 Kh4 18.g5 e4 19.g6 e3 20.Qh7+ and 21.g7 wins.
II. 15… Kf4 16.Qh6+ Kg3 17.Qg5+ Kh2 18.g4 fxg4 19.fxg4 e4 20.Qxh6+ Kg2 21.g5 e3 (or 21… Qf4 22.Qf6 Qxf6 23.gxf6 e3 24.f7 e2 25.f8Q e1Q 26.Qg7+ and Qxc7 wins) 22.g6 e2 23.Qg5+! Kf1! 24.g7 e1Q 25.g8Q. Four Queens on the chessboard! Because the Black King didn’t defend pawns, only his two ladies, he couldn’t avoid furter losses. Example: 25… Q1e2 (threatened Qc4+) 26.Qc1+ and for any moves loses two pawns.
The grandmaster is rowing to an endgame which he manages brilliantly.
Alekhine felt the point in his pocket and moved the next unthinkingly. Better was Qc3+ and by chance Qd4.
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The fifth Queen's endgame You can find in the complete game:
On the Queen-side White had pawn surplus which was movable, on the King-side Black had pawn surplus which wasn’t movable. This is an advantage in the endgame. Maróczy increased this advantage as far as winning.