[Event "Memorial Day Classic G/60"] [Site "Los Angeles"] [Date "1998.05.23"] [Round "1"] [White "Weinberger, Tibor"] [Black "Navarro Segura, Roberto"] [Result "1-0"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "D20"] [Opening "Queen's Gambit Accepted"] [StudyName "Tibor Weinberger (1932-2025)"] [ChapterName "Weinberger, Tibor - Navarro Segura, Roberto"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/zRmsonJK/1WYH1UZT"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [Orientation "white"] { [Annotations by JJ Lang] I selected this game, from 1998, for two reasons: First, it was a fantastic attack against a strong player from an opening with a relatively tame reputation; second, this was a good 20 years past Weinberger's competitive heyday, so it was less likely to receive as much attention at the time it was played. } 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 c5 { This is an unusual move order, compared to 4. ... e6 or 4. ... a6, but by no means bad. } 5. Bxc4 e6 6. Nf3 a6 { We are now back in familiar territory, transposing to the Classical line of the Queen's Gambit Accepted. } 7. O-O Be7 8. Qe2 (8. dxc5 { is the modern way to play, taking advantage of Black's loss of tempo: } 8... Qxd1 9. Rxd1 Bxc5 10. Be2! $14 { White intends Nc3-a4, b2-b3, Bc1-b2, and Ra1-c1 with firm control of the queenside. } { [%cal Gb2b3,Gc1b2,Ga1c1,Gc3a4,Bc1c8] }) 8... Qc7?! { This is too slow. Weinberger's understanding of the position shines now. } (8... b5 { is better, with an instructive response to White's eventual Rf1-d1 and d4xc5: } 9. Bb3 O-O (9... Bb7 { is also playable: } 10. Rd1 Nc6 11. dxc5 Qc7 12. e4 O-O { transposing. }) 10. Rd1 Nc6 11. dxc5 Qc7 12. e4 Bb7 13. e5 Nd7 $10 { The point! By delaying the recapture of the c5-pawn, Black can now reroute the knight to the c5-square. This creates more pressure on the queenside, gives the knight access to the center via the e4-square, and, as a result, limits White's ability to use the open center to conduct a kingside attack. }) 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. e4! { White intends e4-e5 and a swift kingside attack. Black is already too late to stop it. } 10... Nc6 (10... e5!? { is a direct attempt to stop e4-e5, but } 11. Bg5 $16 { wins the d5-square. }) 11. e5 Nd7 12. Bf4 { The e5-pawn is safely guarded. } 12... O-O { With the d-file open, Black's king did not feel safe in the center, so this is reasonable. } 13. Rac1 Re8 14. Ne4 Be7 15. Rfd1 { White's pieces are absolutely sublimely placed. } 15... Nb6 16. Nd6 { The e5-pawn coordinates with the rest of White's army to dominate the d-file. } 16... Rd8 (16... Bxd6 17. exd6 Qd8 18. Ng5 { would also be very promising for White, as Black's pieces are unable to defend the kingside. After } 18... h6 19. Ne4 Nd5 20. Bg3 $18 { , it's hard to see how Black can complete development, while all of White's pieces have paths towards Black's king in the near future. }) 17. Bb3 Bd7 { Black's pieces are too slow. } (17... Nd5 { was the most resistant, but surely Weinberger was ready with } 18. Rxd5! (18. Qe4 { is also strong, but the text move shuts down any counterplay, e.g. }) 18... exd5 19. Nxf7! $18 { and the threat of e5-e6+, winning the queen, guarantees White compensation for the Exchange (and much, much more). }) 18. Ng5 Be8 (18... Bxg5 19. Bxg5 Rf8 { looks like it avoids losing material, at least. But White can calmly reroute pieces towards the h7-square and win shortly. There's even the flashy } 20. Bf6! gxf6 21. Qg4+ Kh8 22. exf6 { when } 22... Rg8 { is the only way to cover the g7-square, allowing } 23. Nxf7#) 19. Qg4 Nd5 { Now White crashes through. } 20. Nxe6 fxe6 21. Qxe6+ Kh8 22. Bxd5 Bh5 23. g4 Bg6 24. Nxb7 Qxb7 25. Bxc6 { Black has seen enough. A very sharp and masterful attack from Weinberger! } 1-0