Excalibur electronic 915-W instruction

the world’s most brilliant games!)

To access this feature, at the beginning of a game, press until “GA ME” is dis- playedMODE . Then press > until the number of the great game (see list below) you want to see is displayed in the upper left of the display. (You can use < to “loop” backward in the list. For example, if you want to select Great Game 15, it’s faster to use

the < key.)

Along with the game number, you will see the position of the game after the first two moves were played. King Arthur will automatically give you the win- ning side. Make the best move you find!

King Arthur will give you points for each correct move that you make. The display will show your total great-game score in two digits (zero at the start) on the left. On the right, the display also shows the amount of points you will win if you play the correct next great- game move.

If you don’t play the correct great-game move, an error buzz will sound, the incorrect move will NOT be played, and the points for this move will be divided in half. If the bonus goes to zero, the correct move will automatically flash. Most moves start with 4 bonus points, but some brilliant moves start with 8 points.

These famous games by some of the most brilliant chess mas- ters of all time can be found, along with full explanations of the reasoning behind the bril- liant moves, in many books on chess.

The numbers, players, loca- tions, and dates of the great games are given below, along with a brief explanation of each game by popular chess writer Al Lawrence. (All game explana- tions are ©2000, 2003, 2006 by Al Lawrence; all rights reserved.)

1. Adolf Anderssen vs. Lionel

Kieseritsky, London, 1851

This marvelous attacking game, a King's Gambit, is widely known as "The Immortal Game." Both players show the 19th-century

preference for attack at all costs, and Anderssen was one of the most ingenious attackers of all time. After 18. Bd6, he gives away both of his rooks and his queen! In the final position, his tiny force is deployed in just the right way to bring the complete Black army to its knees.

2. Adolf Anderssen vs. J. Dufresne,

Berlin, 1852

Again we see Anderssen bamboozling his opponent. The game starts as an Evan's Gambit, a form of the Giuoco Piano. White's 19th move, Rad1!! is one of the most cele- brated in the history of the game. With his reply, … Qxf3, Black actually wins a knight and threatens mate. You'd think that would be enough! But Anderssen follows with a rook and queen sacrifice that forces check- mate in a shower of brilliant blows. This classic is known as the "Evergreen Game."

3. Paul Morphy vs. Duke Karl & Count Isouard, Paris, 1858

While in Paris at the opera, the brilliant, unofficial world champion from New Orleans plays an offhand game against two noblemen. In this case, we're sure it was over before the fat lady sang! In a Philidor Defense, the team of two played a weak 3. … Bg5 that left Morphy with superior devel- opment (more of his pieces are deployed) and the bishop pair (two bishops against a bishop and knight). These two important advantages were all Morphy needed. After Black wastes even more time with another pawn move, 9. … b5?, Morphy hits the duo with a series of brilliant sacrifices to mate. Victory of mind over material is the poetry of chess.

4.Wilhelm Steinitz vs. Kurt von

Bardeleben, Hastings, 1895

Wilhelm Steinitz, the first official world champion, begins this game as a Giuoco Piano. He maneuvers deftly to keep his opponent from castling into safety. Then he sacrifices his pawn on d5 so that he can make the square available for his knight. But 31

the most brilliant move of the game is 22. Rxe7+. At first glance, it simply looks like a blunder. All of White's pieces are attacked, and if Black wasn't in check, he could play … Rxc1+ with mate next. But if Black can't take the rook—with either his king or queen—he loses in all variations. And by not taking it, he is eventually mated anyway. If you're interested in these complex lines, you can find a complete explanation of this clas- sic game in many books.

5. Alexander Alekhine vs. O. Tenner, Cologne, 1911

World Champion Alekhine was a chess fanatic (he even named his cat "Chess") and one of the greatest attacking players of all time. Here he plays the unusual Bishop's Opening and seems to be developing quietly. Black even appears to be getting a good game just at the time Alekhine is able to play the swashbuckling 11. Nxe5, allowing Black to capture his queen. Black's king is forced to march to the center of the board, an unhealthy spot for a monarch when so many pieces are still on the board, where he is mated. It's important to understand that such sacrifices don't just happen illogically. White's pieces again had a dominating com- mand of the board, and Black allowed White's pressure on f7, Black's most sensi- tive defensive square when he hasn't castled, to build into an explosion.

6. Gaudersen vs. Paul, Melbourne, 1928 This "miniature" of only 15 moves, starts off as a French Defense in which White plays the Advance Variation, placing his pawns on d4 and e5. Black's 8th move, castling, was in this case a blunder because his kingside is attacked by many pieces and not effectively defended. White's sparkling 9. Bxh7+ is an example of a bishop sacrifice that's hap- pened so often it has a name—the "Greek Gift." White's 14. Nxe6+ is an example of a discovered check, the dive bomber of the chessboard. White's amusing 15th move is a very rare example of checkmate with the en passant capture.