Chess Analysis: Paul Nikitovich Crushes Future IM John Watson in Simul 35 Years Ago
Thursday, July 9th, 2009On this simul game I have even less info than Paul’s
methodical dismemberment of Bent Larsen.
I will take some guesses here -
since John Watson hosted Larsen in 1974, Denver visit,
and since 1 b3 became Larsen’s opening in 1971-2
and since Paul quickly became too strong to play in simuls
I will make a rough guess of 1974, Paul being an 18 year old
1800 again.
[Event "simul"]
[Site "Denver, Colo"]
[Date "1973.07.18"]
[Round "-"]
[White "Future IM John Watson"]
[Black "Young punk Paul Nikitovich"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ICCResult "White resigns"]
[WhiteElo "2400"]
[BlackElo "1809"]
[Opening "Nimzovich-Larsen attack: modern variation"]
[ECO "A01"]
[NIC "VO.08"]
[Time "04:30:04"]
[TimeControl "none"]
Denver simul
1974?
White – John Watson 2400
Black – Paul Nikitovich 1809
1. b3 e5 2. Bb2 d6 3. g3 f5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. e3 Nf6 6. Ne2 O-O 7. O-O TN Watson
Theoretical Novelty by John Watson and the best move -
later John followed this up with 30,000 more TNs.
7 … c6! 8. d4 e4! 9. Nf4 Qe8
It’s hard to explain but Paul attacks from “weird angles” -
he sneaks up on you.
10. c4! g5 11. Nh3 Ng4
11 … h6! is best but Paul is eager to start a Fishing Pole
attack before LM Jack Young identified Fishing Pole attacks.
12. Nc3! Qg6
Once again Paul goes his own way instead of 12 … h6! – Fritz 8
13. d5 Nd7
Fritz prefers an immediate 13 … Ne5 but naturally
Paul wants to utilize his dead Queenside pieces.
14. Ne2 c5!!!
Eliminating any Watson counterplay,
good tactical and positional understanding
by the angelic looking boy with long, brown hair.
15. Qd2 Qh5
15 … Nge5!! or … Nde5!! are good but Paul wants to prepare a knockout punch.
16. a3?
Wildly optimistic
16 … Nde5!!!
Watson’s in big trouble.
17. Bxe5 Nxe5!! 18. Kh1 Nf3
Paul had an exclam here in his kiddie scoresheet but 18 … f4!! 19 pawn takes pawn Nf3!! just wins a piece.
19. Bxf3?
19 Qc2 was better but bad.
19 … exf3
19 … Q:f3+!!! 20 Kg1 f4!!! is a killer
20. Neg1 f4!! 21. gxf4 Qg4!!!!!
Way to butch the hook, Paul. Mate in 3.
John Watson resigns. 0-1
——————————————————————
[Event "simul"]
[Site "Denver, Colo"]
[Date "1973.07.18"]
[Round "-"]
[White "Future IM John Watson"]
[Black "Young punk Paul Nikitovich"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ICCResult "White resigns"]
[WhiteElo "2400"]
[BlackElo "1809"]
[Opening "Nimzovich-Larsen attack: modern variation"]
[ECO "A01"]
[NIC "VO.08"]
[Time "04:30:04"]
[TimeControl "none"]
1. b3 e5 2. Bb2 d6 3. g3 f5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. e3 Nf6 6. Ne2 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. d4
e4 9. Nf4 Qe8 10. c4 g5 11. Nh3 Ng4 12. Nc3 Qg6 13. d5 Nd7 14. Ne2 c5 15.
Qd2 Qh5 16. a3 Nde5 17. Bxe5 Nxe5 18. Kh1 Nf3 19. Bxf3 exf3 20. Neg1 f4 21.
gxf4 Qg4
0-1
——————————————————————-
