This month’s featured game is a win by GM Volker-M. Anton of Germany, one of the remaining challengers for first place in the Hans-Werner von Massow memorial tournament. This tournament was organized by the German correspondence chess federation BdF in memory of Hans-Werner von Massow, who dedicated much of his life to organizing and expanding correspondence chess in Germany and the international arena.

GM Volker-M. Anton was born in Magdeburg on 31.10.1951. At a very early age he became ill with muscular dystrophy, a disease that produces progressive muscular deterioration and wasting. This disease dramatically limited his possibilities in life, and for many years he has only been able to move about in a wheelchair. He lives with his parents and relies on them for daily assistance. With a very positive attitude he notes that "Correspondence chess and the many friends I have made during these years have been an important part of my life and make up for many of the opportunities that were denied to me."

Professionally Volker-M. Anton works from home for the Stadtsparkasse Magdeburg Bank, through the electronic networks that are rapidly linking all humanity into one giant network. The Stadtsparkasse Magdeburg Bank has strongly supported Volker’s participation in ICCF competitions, and he is very appreciative of the opportunity that this sponsorship has provided for him. In spare moments when he is resting from work and chess, he relaxes by listening to classical music and likes to follows sports, especially soccer and handball.

When he was 11 years old he learned chess from his father, and immediately fell in love with the Royal Game. He played over-the-board (OTB) chess, playing first board for the Magdeburg Chessclub in team competitions, but correspondence chess was his true attraction because it offered many more competitive opportunities than OTB chess because of his difficulties with travel.

His correspondence chess career began in ‘67 and during the following years he made steady progress. In ‘83 he placed second in the ICCF World Cup Final and was awarded the IM title. Not long after he received the GM title in ‘87 for placing second in Scotland’s SCCA Jubilee tournament. During the 1990’s more successes followed: second place in the Dr. Bergraser Memorial - Group A (France), first place in Canada’s CCCA-70, first place in the 3/4-Final of the XIV World Championship with a score of 12.5 out of 14!, a Bronze-Medal for DDR in the Xth Olympiad, 7 out of 14 in the XIVth World Final, and he culminated the decade with a Gold-Medal for Germany in the XI Olympiad. Quite a decade! What will the next ten years bring?

Presently he is playing Board 3 in the Finals of the XIIth Olympiad and in the Hans-Werner von Massow Memorial tournament. As Volker remarks "For me the most important tournament is the Hans-Werner von Massow Memorial, the strongest that has ever been played in Correspondence Chess to the present day. Because of the special group of participants, I was especially pleased to be invited, and that I would be still be fighting for first place at this late stage in the tournament is something that I did not expect." Volker has three games remaining two of which are against his two primary competitors for first place (Dr. D. van Geet and G. Timmerman both of The Netherlands) and the other against two time World Champion Tonu Oim (Estonia). It should be an exciting and close battle for first place.

For the Game of the Month Volker has selected his game against countryman and former World Champion Horst Rittner. The opening is a less well analyzed variation of the Queen’s Indian Defense. On move fifteen White introduces the new move 15.Ted1! which leads to a small but lasting advantage. As the game progresses, move by move White increases the pressure, and although Black defends well and makes no obvious error, he is not able to equalize. A fine example of positional chess! (Annotations are by GM Volker-M. Anton; my comments are noted with VVP

Anton, Volker-M. (Germany) - Rittner, Horst (Germany)

Hans-Werner von Massow, 1996
E17

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Be7 6.0-0 0-0 7.Re1

Because my opponent has played the Queen's Indian defence very successfully for many years, I decided to play this less familiar move over the more popular 7.Nc3

7...Qc8 8.Nc3 Ne4 9.Qc2

Other possibilities are 9.Bd2 f5 10.d5 Na6 11.Nxe4 fxe4 12.Ng5 exd5 13.cxd5 Bxd5 14.Bxe4 Bxe4 15.Nxe4 Nc5= ½-½ Shvidler,E-Tsesarsky,I/ISR 1998; 9.Nxe4 Bxe4 10.Bf4 Qb7 11.Bh3 c5 12.Nd2 Bc6 13.dxc5 bxc5 14.Nb3 Palciauskas-Rittner, H-W von Massow 1996 (VVP)

9...f5 10.b3

10.Nxe4 Bxe4 11.Qc3 Nc6 12.a3 Bf6 13.Be3 a5 14.Ne5 Bxg2 15.Kxg2 Ne7 16.Qd2 d6 17.Nd3 c5 18.dxc5 bxc5 19.Bg5 e5=+ 0–1 Palme,R-Rossolimo,N/Bad Gastein 1948

10...Nxc3 11.Qxc3 a5 12.a3 Bf6 13.Bb2 Na6

13...c5 14.e3 Nc6 15.Red1!?+=

14.Qd2 Be4 15.Red1!N

With the idea of Ne1. 15.Red1 is stronger than 15.b4
A) 15...Qb7 16.b5 Nb8 17.a4 d6 18.Bh3 Qc8 19.c5 dxc5 20.dxc5 Nd7 21.Bxf6 Rxf6 22.c6 Nc5 23.Qb2? (23.Qf4) 23...Bxf3 24.exf3 Nd3-+ ½-½ Alatortsev,V-Makogonov,V/URS-ch10 Tbilisi 1937 (52);
B) 15...axb4! 16.axb4 c6 (16...c5)
B1) 17.Ne5 Bxg2 (17...Bxe5 18.dxe5 Bxg2 19.Kxg2 b5 20.c5 Nc7 21.Rxa8 Nxa8 22.f3 Nc7 23.Rd1 Rd8 24.Bd4 Nd5 25.Be3 Rf8 26.Bg5 h6=) 18.Kxg2 d6 19.Nd3 Qb7 20.f3 b5 21.c5 dxc5 22.dxc5 unclear;
B2) 17.Bh3 17...Qb7 (17...b5) 18.Ne5 d6 19.Nd3 b5=]

15...Qb7 16.Ne1 Bxg2 17.Nxg2 c6 18.Nf4+= Bg5

18...b5 19.Nh5+=; 18...g6 19.Nd3+=

19.d5! cxd5 20.cxd5 Nc5 21.dxe6 dxe6 22.Qe3!

The Queen moves just one square and it's prospects are greatly improved! Now it protects b3, overprotects e5, increases the pressure on the Black pawn on e6, and after b4 will attack the Black pawn on b6.

22...Rfe8 23.Rac1 Re7!?

An important moment for Black. White was contemplating b4 and Be5 with a penetration along the c file. It's clear that the defense will be difficult, but is it impossible? Should Black defend passively as Re7, or should he try for complications with 23...e5!? The following analyses presented by Volker illustrate the many possibilities. (VVP)
1) 23...Rad8 24.Rxd8 Bxd8 (24...Rxd8 25.Bd4 Bxf4 26.gxf4) 25.b4 axb4 26.axb4 Ne4 27.f3 Bf6 (27...e5 28.Qb3+) 28.Bxf6 Nxf6 29.Qe5;
23...Nd7 24.Rd6 e5 25.Qd3
1A) 25...Nf8 26.Qxf5 Be7 (26...Qe7 27.Rd5 Bxf4 28.gxf4 exf4 29.Re5) 27.Bxe5 Bxd6 28.Bxd6 Qe4 29.Qxe4 Rxe4 30.e3;
1B) 25...Nc5 26.Qxf5 Be7 27.Rh6 Qe4 (27...gxh6 28.Qxe5) 28.Qxe4 Nxe4 29.Re6 Bxa3 30.Bxa3 exf4 31.Rxb6; 23...Rac8 24.Be5 Bxf4 25.gxf4 Ne4 (25...Qe4 26.Qxe4 Nxe4 27.Rxc8 Rxc8 28.Rd7) 26.Qd4 Rxc1 27.Rxc1 Nc5 28.Rc3 g6 29.Qd6;
2) 23...e5!? 24.Bxe5
2A) 24...Qf7 25.b4
2A1) 25...Nd7 26.Rc7 Rad8 (26...Nxe5 27.Rxf7 Kxf7) 27.Qc3 axb4 28.axb4 Rxe5 29.Rcxd7 Rxd7 30.Rxd7 Qxd7 31.Qxe5 Bxf4 32.Qxf4 Qd1+ 33.Kg2 Qxe2 34.Qxf5;
2A2) 25...axb4 26.axb4 Nd7 27.Rc7 Rad8 (27...Rxe5 28.Rdxd7) 28.Qc3 Rxe5 29.Rcxd7 Rxd7 30.Rxd7 Qxd7 31.Qxe5 Bxf4 32.Qxf4 Qd1+ 33.Kg2 Qxe2 34.Qxf5;
2B) 24...Nd7 25.Rc7 Qxc7 26.Bxc7 Rxe3 27.fxe3 Nc5 28.Bxb6 Nxb3 29.Rd7 Re8 30.Nd5;
2C) 24...Bf6 25.Rd5 Qf7
2C1) 26.Qf3 Bxe5 27.Rxe5 Nxb3 (27...Qxb3) 28.Rd1 Nc5 29.Rxe8+ Rxe8 30.Qc6 Rb8 31.Rb1 Nd7;
2C2) 26.Rcd1 26...Bxe5 (26...g5 27.Nh3 h6) 27.Rxe5 Rxe5 28.Qxe5
2C2a) 28...Nxb3 29.Qb5;
2C2b) 28...Re8 29.Qd5
2C2b1) 29...Qxd5 30.Rxd5 Nxb3 31.e3 Rb8 32.Rxf5 b5 33.Rd5 b4 34.axb4 axb4 (34...Rxb4) 35.Nd3 Na1 36.Rd7 b3 37.Nb2 Rc8 38.Kg2 Rc1 39.Kf3 Rb1 40.Nd3 Nc2 41.Rb7;
2C2b2) 29...Nxb3 30.Qb5 Nc5 31.Qxb6;
2C2c) 28...Qxb3 29.Rd6 Rf8 30.Nd5 Qb1+ 31.Kg2 Qe4+ 32.Qxe4 fxe4 33.Nxb6

24.Be5!+-

24...Ne4

24...Qe4 25.Qxe4 Nxe4 26.Rc6+-

25.b4 Qa6!? 26.f3 Qb5 27.Bc7 Nf6

27...e5 28.fxe4 exf4 29.gxf4 Bh6 30.e5+-; 27...Bxf4 28.gxf4 Nf6 29.Bd8 Re8 30.Bxf6 gxf6 31.Rc7+-

28.Bd8!

The Knight must not be allowed to reach d5 (VVP)

28...Re8 29.Bxf6 Bxf6 30.Nh5 Bd8

Perhaps best? Although the Bishop now prevents an entry to c7 and defends the pawn on b6, it no longer defends the vital long diagonal and will be a target for White's rooks on d8 or c7. (VVP)
1) 30...Bb2 31.Rc7
1A) 31...axb4 32.Nxg7 Bxg7 (32...Qe5 33.Qg5 Bd4+ 34.Kf1 f4 35.Nf5+ Kh8 36.Rxd4 exf5 37.Rxh7+) 33.Qg5 Qe5 34.Rdd7;
1B) 31...Kh8 To make room for Rg8. 32.Rdd7 Rg8 (32...Rac8 33.Qxe6 Ra8 34.Re7) 33.Nf4 Rge8 34.Nd3 Bf6 35.Rf7
1B1) 35...Ba1 36.Qg5 Rg8 37.Nf4;
1B2) 35...Rad8 36.Rxf6 gxf6 37.bxa5 (37.Qh6 Rd7=) 37...Rd7 (37...bxa5 38.Qa7+-) 38.Rxd7 Qxd7 39.axb6;
1B3) 35...Rac8 36.Rxc8 Rxc8 37.Qxe6 Re8 38.Qd6;
2) 30...Qe5 31.Nxf6+ Qxf6 (31...gxf6 32.Qxe5 fxe5 33.Rc7 axb4 34.axb4 Ra2 35.Kf2 Rb2 36.Rdd7 Rxb4 37.Rg7+ Kh8 38.Rxh7+ Kg8 39.Rcg7+ Kf8 40.h4+-) 32.b5 Rab8 33.Rc6 (33.Rc7 Qb2 34.Rdd7) 33...Qb2 34.a4 e5 35.Rd7 Qa1+ 36.Kg2 e4 37.Qb3+ Kh8 38.f4+-;
30...axb4 31.Nxf6+ gxf6 32.Rc7 bxa3 (32...Qe5 33.Qxe5 fxe5 34.axb4 Red8 35.Rxd8+ Rxd8 36.Rc6) 33.Rdd7
2A) 33...Qxd7 34.Rxd7 a2 (34...Rad8 35.Rxd8 Rxd8 36.Qxe6+ Kf8 37.Qxf6+ Ke8 38.Qe6+) 35.Qh6 a1Q+ 36.Kg2;
2B) 33...Qb1+ 34.Kg2 f4 35.Rg7+ Kh8 36.Qxf4+-; 30...e5 31.Nxf6+ gxf6 32.Rc7 Rec8 33.Rcd7; 30...Ra7 31.Nxf6+ gxf6 32.Rd6 axb4 33.Rxe6 Rxe6 34.Qxe6+ Kg7 35.Rc6 Qe5 36.axb4

31.Rd6!+-

This move wins a pawn, but it still takes very precise play to ultimately win the game.

31...axb4

31...Kf7?! 32.a4!! Qxb4 (32...Qxa4 33.Qd4) 33.Qe5 Bf6 34.Rc7+ Kg6 35.Rxg7+ Bxg7 36.Qxg7+ Kxh5 37.Qxh7+ Kg5 38.Qg7+ Kh5 39.Qf7+ Kh6 (39...Kg5 40.h4+) 40.Rd7 Qe1+ 41.Kg2 Qxe2+ 42.Kh3+-; 31...e5 32.Rc7! Be7 (32...Bxc7 33.Qg5) 33.a4 Qxb4 34.Qxe5+-

32.Rxe6 Rf8

32...Kf7 33.Nxg7; 32...Rxe6 33.Qxe6+ Kf8 (33...Kh8 34.Rc6) 34.axb4

33.Qd4 Rf7 34.axb4 Bc7 35.Rcc6 Qa6

Black has no serious counterplay and is limited to a passive defense for the rest of the game. (VVP) 35...Rd8 36.Qc3; 35...Qa4 36.Qc4

36.Qd5 Rd8

36...Kf8 37.Rxc7 Rxc7 38.Qd6+ Kf7 39.Qxc7+ Kxe6 40.Nxg7+ Kf6 41.Nh5+ Ke6 42.Nf4+ Kf6 43.Nd5+ Ke6 44.Qc6+; 36...Qa1+ 37.Kg2 Kf8 38.Rxc7 Rxc7 39.Qd6+ Kf7 40.Nxg7

37.Qb3 Qa1+ 38.Kg2

The threat is Rxc7.

38...Kf8 39.Qc4 Rd4

39...Rdd7 40.Nf4; 39...Qa7 40.Nf4

40.Qb5 Rd8

40...Qa8 41.Rxc7 Rxc7 42.Qxf5+ Kg8 (42...Rf7 43.Qxh7) 43.Qe5

41.Re3 Qa7

Other moves do not provide a better defense. 41...g6 42.Rec3 Rdd7 (42...Bb8 43.Rd3 Re8 44.Re6; 42...Rd1 43.Rxc7 Rg1+ 44.Kh3 Rxc7 45.Rxc7 Qf1+ 46.Kh4) 43.Nf6; 41...f4 42.Rec3 Qa7 43.Qc4 Be5 44.Nxf4 Bxf4 45.gxf4; 41...Qd4 42.Rd3 Qb2 43.Re6; 41...Qd1 42.Nxg7 Kxg7 43.Rxc7 Rxc7 44.Qe5+ Kg6 45.Qxc7; 41...h6 42.Rce6 Qa8 43.Nf4; 41...Rb8 42.Rce6 Qa8 43.Re7 Rxe7 44.Qxf5+ Rf7 45.Qxh7

42.Rce6 Qb8 43.Nf4 Bxf4

The Knight on d5 would be too strong. Now White's heavy pieces dominate the center forcing Black into further exchanges. (VVP)

44.gxf4 g6 45.Qc4 Kg7 46.Re7 Rdf8 47.Qd4+ Kh6

47...Kg8 48.R3e6 Qd8 49.Qe5 b5 50.h4+-

48.R3e6 b5 49.Qd7 Rxe7

49...Rd8 50.Qxd8 Qxd8 51.Rxf7+-

50.Rxe7 Rh8 51.Qd4 Kh5

51...Rg8 52.Qf6 Qxf4 53.h4+-; 51...Qf8 52.Rb7 Rg8 53.Qd7 Rh8 54.e4+-

52.Kh3 Qf8 53.Rd7

Black is in virtual Zugzwang! His Rook cannot move and his Queen must protect the rook and keep an eye on f6. (VVP)

53...h6

53...Kh6 54.Kh4!

54.Rg7 g5

The only move. 54...Qd8 55.Qf2 Qf6 56.Qg3 threatening mate with Qg4+; 54...Rg8 55.Qg1! threatening Qxg6+ and Qg4+.

55.Qe5 Rg8

55...gxf4 56.e4 fxe3 57.Qg3

56.Rxg8 Qxg8 57.Qxf5 Qc4 58.fxg5 Qh4+ 59.Kg2

Black will have to exchange Queens or be mated. So he resigns (VVP)

1-0

Dr. Fritz Baumbach is compiling the games from the Hans-Werner von Massow memorial tournament. The book will be published shortly after the completion of the tournament. The updated table of results for the Hans-Werner von Massow memorial can be found on the ICCF web page.