Annotated Miniature 1: Mayet - Anderssen

Submitted by chessiq on Mon, 09/07/2009 at 3:14am.

Studying miniatures has many benefits. First, almost always, the winner wins quickly because the loser did something (really bad) that s/he should not have done in the opening. Second, related to the first reason, one learns what not to do. Third, related to the first and the second, one learns how to finish off a game when an opponent misplays the opening. Fourth, miniatures do not take as much time as longer games to analyze or go over. Fifth, miniatures are usually tactical in nature, thus one gets to see tactics in (game) action. Sixth, one can easily replay the whole game from memory. [I think there are benefits to that.] Last, but not least, they are exciting [at least to me].
Here is a game between Mayet and Anderssen that I have annotated. The latter was one of the best-attacking players of his time. Your comments, ideas, and thoughts are welcome.

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Comments:

by chessiq - 2 months ago
Malawi

Member Since: Jun 2007
Member Points: 654

thendricks, you are probably right - [hence the "we learn what to avoid" bit in the intro]. I just wanted to point out that there are a ton of GrandMaster games that are miniatures. Even Kasparov lost in about 15 moves. These people are not amateurs

by thendricks - 2 months ago
Northwest United States

Member Since: Jul 2009
Member Points: 49

I agree w/ your analysis of miniatures. However, I believe they primarily help the beginning to intermediate player try to avoid blunders.

by chessiq - 2 months ago
Malawi

Member Since: Jun 2007
Member Points: 654

batgirl, you bring up a good point about the aesthetic beauty when the advantage is not easily discernable. I had to think a little bit about what you meant, and I think I got it. [I will look for the that element in future posts.]

wubowen100, your variation is interesting. However, there is another way to defend against 5...Qg5. For example, instead of playing 6.Nf3, White could play 6.d4 with the following possible continuation

6......Qxg2

7.Qf3 Qxf3

8.Nxf3 and White only loses a pawn instead of a minor piece. The game is far from over at this point.

by wubowen100 - 2 months ago
United States

Member Since: Feb 2009
Member Points: 293

Qg5 is much better

)

by batgirl - 2 months ago
NC United States

Member Since: Jun 2007
Member Points: 4356

Was he toying with his opponent ?

Anderssen's conception is a far more beautiful (and quicker) mate.

by molly9112 - 2 months ago
cairo Egypt

Member Since: Jun 2009
Member Points: 95

On move 11 Black had a beautiful forced win, and I wonder why he didn't go for it :

11. ... g3xf2+

12. Rxf2 Rh1+

13. Kxh1 Nxf2+

14. Kg1 Nxg4

Anderssen could not have missed it. Was he toying with his opponent ?

by batgirl - 2 months ago
NC United States

Member Since: Jun 2007
Member Points: 4356

I totally agree with your assessment of miniatures. Beyond what you mentined, I think there is a certain aesthetic beauty to the better ones, particularly where the advantage isn't easily discernable.

Thanks for the game.

by chessiq - 2 months ago
Malawi

Member Since: Jun 2007
Member Points: 654

defrancis7, nice catch! I had transposed/switched the colors. I have fixed the error. Many thanks for pointing that out.

by defrancis7 - 2 months ago
Litchfield, MI United States

Member Since: Aug 2009
Member Points: 11

The annotation for move 12. ... Bxf2 says that Black resigned since White had a forced 3 or 4 move mate. My analysis may be in error; but, I see the following as a forced win for Black: 13. Rxf2 Rh1+ 14. Kxh1 Qd1+ 15. Qe1 Qxd1+ 16. Rf1 Qxf1#.

Dee