My opponent in this game was Robert Clark of Austin, Texas.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4

The same position can arise from 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Nc6! or 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nf3 Nc6!

5.e5 d5 6.Bb5 Ne4 7.Nxd4 Bc5!

This is much better than 7...Bd7, but it requires a good deal of theoretical knowledge.

8.Nxc6!?

An extraordinary move that attracted attention in the early 1990's, after lying dormant in chess opening theory for more than 75 years. During all that time it was considered highly dubious, and as the Italian Game shrank in significance, the analysis supporting this conclusion was gradually pruned from the openings manuals.

8...Bxf2+ 9.Kf1

Position after 9. Kf1

9...Qh4!

The "Kaidanz Variation," and one almost lost to chess theory. Modern manuals contain just one or two brief continuations after 9...Qh4, not nearly enough to make sense of Kaidanz' idea. But when this game was played, I happened to recall a remark concerning this variation by Edward Winter in a letter to Larry Evans' Chess Life column. Normally I don't save back issues of CL, but I was able to dig this one up. Apparently, Dr. Hermann Kaidanz authored an analysis of this line that appeared in the Wiener Schachzeitung in 1904. Desperate for sources, I telephoned the Cleveland Public Library, which has one of the world's premier chess collections. Yes, they said, they did have the Wiener Schachzeitung for 1904-1905. I was exultant, but as it turned out, I didn't need to make the two-hour drive to Cleveland, because I discovered a more recent, very extensive analysis in the 1916 edition of the Handbuch des Schachspiels (Karl Schlecter, ed.), of which I had a copies of all the pages relevant to the Italian Game. Schlecter writes that the lines given there are "the main variations of an analysis by Dr. Herman Kaidanz."

In 1991, Rini Kuif, a Dutch IM writing in New in Chess Yearbook 20, expressed distrust of 9...Qh4 (without being aware of Kaidanz' analysis) and recommended 9...bxc6 10.Bxc6+ Kf8

Analysis position after 10...Kf8

My opponent told me during the game that he regarded this as Black's best continuation. The game caused him to change his mind. Schlecter in the Handbuch claims that Kuif's idea is refuted by 11.Qd3 and now:

A) 11...Bf5 12.Qf3 Bc8 (12...Bd7 13.e6) 13.Nd2 Nxd2+ 14.Bxd2 Bc5 15.Bxd5;

B) 11...Rb8 12.Bxd5;

C) 11...Qh4 12.Nc3 Nc5 13.Qf3 Bd4 14.Bxa8 Bxc3 15.Be3.

10.Qxd5

There are several alternatives. I give in full and without embellishment Schlecter's summary of Kaidanz' analysis, in all cases with advantage to Black:

10.Qe2 0-0 11.Be3 (11.Nb4 Bc5; 11.Na5 Bb6) 11...bxc6 12.Bxc6 (12.Bxf2 Nxf2 13.Qxf2 Qxf2+ 14.Kxf2 cxb5 15.Nc3 c6) 12...Bg4 13.Qd3 Rad8 14.Bxd5 Bxe3 15.Qxe3 Rxd5; 10.Nxa7+ c6 11.Nxc8 Rxc8

Analysis position after 11...Rxc8

A) 12.Be2 Ba7 13.Qe1 Nf2 14.c3 (14.Nd2 Qd4 15.Nf3 Qb6 16.c3 Nxh1 17.Nd4) 14...0-0 15.Nd2 Qe7 16.Rg1 (16.Qxf2 "comes into consideration") 16...Qxe5 17.Nf3 Ng4 18.Qh4 (18.Qg3 Qf5) 18...Qe4 19.Ne1 (19.Rh1 Bf2 20.Qh3 Rce8 21.Nd4 f5 "and so forth" ) 19...Rce8;

B) 12.Ba4 Ba7 13.Qe1 Nf2 14.Bb3 Qg4 15.Rg1 Qf5 16.Ke2! 0-0 17.Be3 Bxe3 18.Kxe3 Rfe8;

C) 12.Bd3 12...Ng3+ 13.hxg3 (13.Kxf2 Ne4+) 13...Qxh1+ 14.Ke2 Qxg2 15.Qf1 Qxf1+ 16.Kxf1 Bxg3 17.Bf5 Rc7 "Black wins the pawn on e5." 18.e6 fxe6 19.Bxe6 Re7 20.Bh3 Re1+ 21.Kg2 Rxc1 22.Kxg3 Kd8 "followed by ...Re8 and ...Ree1";

10.Nc3 0-0

Analysis position after 10...0-0

A) 11.Qxd5 Nxc3 12.bxc3 bxc6 13.Qxc6 (13.Bxc6 Ba6+ 14.Bb5 Rad8 15.g3 Qh3+ 16.Qg2 Bxb5+ 17.Kxf2 Qxg2+ 18.Kxg2 Bc6+) 13...Bg4 14.Bd2 Rad8 15.Be1 Bxe1 16.Rxe1 Rd2;

B) 11.Nb4 c6 12.Be2 (12.Bd3 Bc5 13.Nxe4 dxe4; 12.Nxe4 dxe4 13.Qe2 Bb6 14.Bc4 a5 "and Black wins the knight with a superior game") 12...Bc5 13.Nd3 (13.Nxe4 dxe4 14.Qe1 Qxe1+ 15.Kxe1 Bxb4+) 13...Ng3+;

C) 11.Na5 c6 "and Black either regains the piece with a better game or preserves a strong attack";

D) 11.Nxe4 11...dxe4

D1) 12.Ne7+ Qxe7 13.Kxf2 Qc5+;

D2) 12.Nb4 Rd8;

D3) 12.Na5 Rd8;

D4) 12.Qe2 bxc6 13.Bxc6 Bb6! (threatens ...Ba6) 14.Be3 (14.g3 Qh3+ 15.Ke1 Bg4; 14.Bg5 Qxg5 15.Bxa8 Ba6! 16.Qxa6 Qf4+) 14...Ba6 15.Qxa6 Bxe3 16.Qe2 Qf4+ 17.Ke1 Rad8;

D5) 12.Nd4 12...c5

D5a) 13.Ne2 Bg4 14.Bg5 Qxg5 15.Kxf2 Rad8 16.Qc1 (16.Qe1 a6!; 16.Qf1 a6!) 16...Rd2 17.Rd1 e3+ 18.Kg1 (18.Ke1 Qf5) 18...Bxe2;

D5b) 13.Nb3 Bg4 14.Be2 Rad8 15.Bd2 f5 16.Qc1 Bxe2+ 17.Kxe2 f4;

10.Nd4+ c6

Analysis position after 10...c6

A) 11.Ba4 Bxd4 12.Qxd4 Ng3+;

B) 11.Be2 Bxd4 12.Qxd4 Ng3+;

C) 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.Bxc6+ Ke7 13.c4 (13.Qxd5 Ba6+ 14.c4 Rhd8; 13.Bxd5 Rd8 14.c4 Ng3+ 15.Kxf2 Ne4+ 16.Ke3 Qf2+ 17.Kd3 Bf5) 13...Ng3+ 14.Kxf2 (14.hxg3 Qxh1+ 15.Ke2 Bg4+) 14...Ne4+ 15.Ke3 Qf2+ 16.Kd3 dxc4+ 17.Kxc4 Ba6+ 18.Bb5 Bxb5+ 19.Kxb5 Rab8+;

D) 11.Nf3 Ng3+ 12.Kxf2 (12.hxg3 Qxh1+ 13.Ke2 Qxd1+ 14.Kxd1 cxb5) 12...Ne4+ 13.Ke3 Qf2+ 14.Kd3 Bf5! 15.Nd4 Bg6 16.Nd2 Nd6+ 17.Kc3 Nxb5+ 18.Nxb5 Qe3+ 19.Kb4 a5+! 20.Ka4 cxb5+ 21.Kxb5 Bf5 "and so forth".

10...Bc5

Kaidanz' move, of which Kuif was unaware.

10...Be6 11.Nd4+ Ke7 12.Nxe6 fxe6 13.Qd7+ and White has a good game. Kuif.

10...0-0 11.Nd2 favors White. Kuif.

11.Be3!!

Position after 11. Be3

Clark had prepared this great winning try which, amazingly considering the exhaustiveness of Kaidanz' analysis, Kaidanz did not think of! Kaidanz gave (again I quote Schlecter's summary in the Handbuch, in all cases with advantage for Black):

11.g3 Qh3+ 12.Ke1!

Analysis position after 12. Ke1

12...Bf2+ 13.Ke2 (13.Kd1 Bg4+ 14.Be2 Qg2! 15.Bxg4 Qxh1+ 16.Ke2 Nxg3+) 13...Qg4+ 14.Kd3 (14.Kf1 0-0 15.Ne7+ Kh8 16.Nxc8 Qf3 17.Qd3 Qxh1+ 18.Ke2 Raxc8 19.Be3 Qe1+ 20.Kf3 f5 21.exf6 Rxf6+ 22.Kxe4 Bxe3) 14...Nc5+ 15.Kc3 0-0 16.Ne7+ Kh8 17.Qd1 Ne4+ 18.Kb3 Qe6+ 19.Qd5 Nc5+;

11.Nd4+ c6 12.Be3 0-0 13.Qb3

Analysis position after 13. Qb3

13...Be6! 14.Bc4 (14.Nxe6 fxe6+ 15.Ke2 Bxe3 16.Qxe3 Rf2+ 17.Kd1 cxb5; 14.Qd3 Bxd4 15.Bxd4 cxb5 16.Nd2 Nxd2+ 17.Qxd2 Rad8 18.c3 f6; 14.Nf3 Qg4 15.Qd3 cxb5 16.Nbd2 Nxd2+ 17.Nxd2 Rad8 18.Qe2 Bxe3 19.Qxe3 Qf5+) 14...Bxd4 15.Bxd4 b5! 16.Bxe6 fxe6+ 17.Ke2 Rf2+ 18.Bxf2 Qxf2+ 19.Kd1 Rd8+;

11.Qd8+ Qxd8 12.Nxd8+ Kxd8;

11.Nb4+ c6 12.Nd3 0-0 13.Qb3 Be6 14.Bc4 Bxc4 15.Qxc4 Ng3+;

11.Nd8+ c6 12.Bxc6+ bxc6 13.Qxc6+

Analysis position after 13. Qxc6+

13...Kf8 14.g3 Qh3+ 15.Ke1 Bf2+ 16.Ke2 Qg4+ 17.Kd3 Ba6+

11...Ng3+!

Safe and solid, but seemingly not sufficient for advantage. For a long time after the game was played, I was sure I had refuted Clark's idea, and during the game, Clark thought so too. But my latest appraisal is that the game is even.

11...Bxe3?! 12.g3

A) 12...Nxg3+ 13.hxg3 Bh3+ 14.Ke2 Qxg3 and now it appears that White has two different ways to secure a big advantage (14...Bg4+ 15.Kxe3 Qxg3+ 16.Kd4 and Black's task is hopeless)

A1) 15.Nd4+ Ke7 16.Qf3 (16.Qc5+ Kd8 17.Qd5+ Ke7 and White makes no progress) 16...Qg5 (16...Qxf3+ 17.Nxf3 Bg2 18.Rd1) 17.Rxh3! Bxd4 18.Rh5 Qc1 19.Bc4 Raf8 20.Rf5 Bxb2 (20...Qxc2+ 21.Nd2 Bxb2 22.Rxf7+ is similar) 21.Rxf7+ Rxf7 22.Qxf7+ Kd8 23.Nd2!;

A2) 15.Nb4+ and now:

A2a) 15...Ke7 16.Rxh3 Qxh3 17.Qxb7 Qg4+ 18.Kxe3 Qxb4 19.Qxc7+ Kf8 20.Qd6+ Qxd6 21.exd6 The situation with the pawns is strange, but White is certainly winning;

A2b) 15...Kf8 16.Rxh3 Qxh3 (16...Qf2+ 17.Kd3 Qf1+ 18.Kxe3 Qxh3+ 19.Kd2) 17.Bc4 and White has a material advantage and the initiative;

A2c) 15...c6 16.Bxc6+ Kf8 17.Rxh3 Qxh3 18.Bxb7 Bb6 (18...Re8 19.Nd3 also favors White)

A2c1) 19.Qf3 Qxf3+ 20.Bxf3 (equal is 20.Kxf3 Rb8 21.Be4 Bd4) 20...Re8 21.Nd3 Bc7 22.Nc3 Bxe5 23.Bc6 Re7 24.Nxe5 Rxe5+ and White is better in this ending, in part because of his more active king;

A2c2) 19.Qe4 followed soon by Nd3, and Black has insufficient compensation for his material deficit;

B) 12...Bh3+ 13.Ke2 Qg4+ (13...Nxg3+ 14.hxg3 transposes into A above) 14.Kxe3 Bg2 15.Nd4+ Ke7 16.Rf1! Bxf1 17.Bxf1 with a big advantage for White;

C) 12...Qh3+! 13.Ke2

C1) Necessary but dreary is 13...Bg5! 14.Qxe4 Qg4+ 15.Kd3 (similar is 15.Qxg4 Bxg4+ 16.Kf2 a6 17.Ba4 Bd7 18.h4 Bh6 19.Nc3 bxc6 20.Rhd1) 15...a6 16.Ba4 Qxe4+ 17.Kxe4 Bd7 18.h4 Bh6 19.Nc3 bxc6 20.Rhd1 Ke7! (20...Rb8 21.Rd4 Rxb2 22.Rad1 Bg4 23.Bxc6+ Ke7 24.Rd7+! Bxd7 25.Rxd7+ Ke6 26.Nd5 and White wins) 21.Rd4 and Black's two bishops don't quite make up for his weak queenside pawns and White's active pieces;

C2) 13...Qg2+ 14.Kxe3

Analysis position after 14. Kxe3

It seemed to me during the game that Black is not attacking with nearly enough wood here, and I looked no further. But I believe the following analysis proves the correctness of this judgement.

14...Qf2+ 15.Kd3 Qf3+ (15...Bf5? 16.Nd4+)

C2a) All is well for White if he plays 16.Kd4! Qf2+ (16...Bh3 17.Nc3 Qf2+ 18.Kd3) 17.Kc4 Qxc2+ (17...Be6 18.Nd8+; 17...0-0? 18.Ne7+ Kh8 19.Qxe4) 18.Nc3 and I don't see how Black can preserve his attack. For example 18...Nd2+ 19.Kd4 0-0 20.Ne7+ Kh8 21.Ke3;

C2b) But not 16.Kc4? 16...0-0 (threatening ...Be6)

C2b1) 17.Ne7+ Kh8

C2b11) 18.Nxc8 Qxh1 19.Ne7 (or 19.Bd7 c6) 19...c6 and Black is winning;

C2b12) 18.Nd2 18...Qe2+ 19.Kb3 Nxd2+ 20.Kb4 Qg4+ 21.c4 a5+ 22.Ka3 c6 23.Qxd2 cxb5 24.cxb5 Qc4 and Black has a powerful initiative;

C2b2) 17.Qd1 Be6+ 18.Kb4 a5+ 19.Nxa5 c5+ 20.Ka4 b6 and White is in some really serious trouble.

12.hxg3 Qxh1+ 13.Kf2

13.Ke2? Bg4+

13...Bxe3+ 14.Kxe3 0-0

Position after 14...0-0

Black has only a rook versus two minor pieces, but White's insecure king, weak pawns, and difficulties along the back rank are at least adequate compensation.

14...Bd7 15.Nb8!

15.Ne7+ Kh8 16.Nxc8?

This gives Black a win. Why exchange an active piece for an inactive one, at the same time uniting Black's rooks?

Necessary was 16.Qe4! attacking the kingside. I didn't see this during the game, or for some time afterward.

A) 16...c6?! 17.Bd3 Qe1+ (17...Be6 18.Nc3 with a material advantage, and the initiative, for White; the same is true after 17...Re8 18.Nxc8 Raxc8 19.Nd2) 18.Kf3 Qxe4+ 19.Kxe4 favors White;

B) 16...Qh6+ 17.Ke2 c6 18.Nxc8 Raxc8 19.Bd3 Qh5+ (19...Rce8 20.Nd2 favors White) 20.Kf2 Rce8 21.Nc3 Rxe5 22.Rh1 Qxh1 23.Qxe5 and Black's pawns are very vulnerable;

C) 16...Qe1+ 17.Kf3 Qxe4+ 18.Kxe4 is better for White;

D) Risky but apparently necessary is 16...Qc1+! 17.Kf3 Qxb2 18.Bd3 g6 (18...f5? 19.Ng6+ hxg6 20.Qh4+ Kg8 21.Bc4+) 19.Qf4

19.Nc3 Qxa1 20.Ncd5 Qd1+ and White's attack seems unlikely to succeed;

19.Qh4? Qxe5

Analysis position after 19. Qf4

D1) 19...Kg7? 20.Qf6+ Kh6 21.g4 Qxa1 22.g5+ Kh5 23.Kg3 Qd4 24.Be2+ Bg4 25.Nf5;

D2) 19...Bf5 looks extremely dangerous, but maybe Black can hold the draw: 20.Nxf5

D2a) 20...f6

D2a1) 21.Qh6 gxf5 (21...Rg8? 22.Ne7) 22.Bxf5 Rf7 23.Qh5 Qxe5! 24.Qxf7 Qxf5+;

D2a2) 21.e6 21...Qxa1 22.Qxc7 Rg8 23.Nh6 Rgf8 24.Qxb7;

D2b) 20...Qxa1 21.Ne7 Rg8 22.Nxg8 Kxg8 and the game looks about even, for example 23.c3 Rd8 (or 23...Qb2 ) 24.Bc4 Rf8;

D3) 19...Rg8 appears to be the most solid: 20.Qf6+ (20.Nxg8 Kxg8 21.Bc4 Be6 and White will have insufficient compensatio for the exchange) 20...Rg7 21.Nxg6+ in this way White can force perpetual check (21.Nd2 Bg4+ 22.Kxg4 Qxa1 and Black's not-very-active rooks and solid pawns are stronger than White's active minor pieces and not-very-solid pawns) 21...fxg6 (21...hxg6 22.Qh4+=) 22.Qf8+ Rg8 23.Qf6+ Rg7= And so, based upon my present understanding, I believe that the Kaidanz Variation leads to equality.

16.Bd3 Qe1+ (16...Qc1+ 17.Kf3 Qxb2 18.Qe4 transposes into (C) above.) 17.Kf3 f6 18.e6 Bxe6 and Black has a nice game, for example 19.Qh5 Qd1+ 20.Be2 Qxc2 21.Na3 g6 22.Nxc2 gxh5.

16...Qc1+ 17.Qd2

Otherwise Black retains the threat of ...c6.

17...Qxb2 18.Qd4

Worse is 18.Nc3 Qxa1 19.Ne7 Rad8

18...Qxb5 19.Ne7 Rae8

Black intends to break through on the e- and f-files.

20.Nc3 Qb2 21.Rb1 Qxc2 22.Ned5 Qxg2

Also sufficient for the win is 22...f6 23.e6 Rxe6+ 24.Kf3

23.Ne4

Position after 23. Ne4

White seems to have a pretty solid setup.

23...c5! 24.Qxc5 f5

and here White resigned. During the game, I expected 25. Nd6 Rxe5+ 26. Kd4, but then 26...Qf2+! (a move pointed out to me later by the editors of the Dark Horse News, a now-defunct chess publication here in Columbus in which I published an earlier set of notes to this game).

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