White to Play

Pete Tamburro on May 6, 2026

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Number 21 in our series of instructional games. Seidman - Santasiere B29 New York, 1939 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6? (Best is 2...Nc6) 3.e5 Nd5 4.Nc3 Nxc3 5.dxc3 (White is already more mobile.) 5...b6 6.Bc4 (Also fun is 6.e6 dxe6 7.Qxd8+ Kxd8 8.Ne5 Ke8 9.Bb5+ Nd7 10.Bc6 Rb8 11.Bf4) 6...e6 7.Bf4 (Zeroing in on Black's hole on d6.)7...Qc7 8.0–0 Bb7 9.Qe2 a6 10.a4 Nc6 11.Rad1 Be7 12.Rd2 (A good alternative was 12.Bd3) 12...0–0 (White has an edge after the better for Black 12...Na5 13.Rfd1 Nxc4 14.Rxd7 Qc8 15.Qxc4 Bd5 16.R1xd5 exd5 17.Qxd5 Qxd7 18.Qxa8+ Bd8 19.Qxa6) 13.Rfd1 (White certainly has been single-minded about this!)13...Rfd8 14.Ng5 h6 (As White, all your pieces are ideally placed, so you have to do something. What is the winning line of play here. Not just the first move!) (SEE DIAGRAM)

15.Nxf7!! Kxf7 16.Rxd7! Not good is the overeager 16.Qh5+ g6 17.Qxh6 Rh8 16...Qxd7 The rook capture is a really fascinating line. See how far you can go on your own! 16...Rxd7 17.Bxe6+! Kxe6 18.Qc4+ Kf5 19.Qf7+ Bf6 20.Rxd7 Nxe5 21.Qh5+ Kxf4 22.g3+ Ke4 23.Rxc7 Rb8 24.f4 Nc6 25.Qg6+ Kf3 26.Qd3+ Kg4 27.Rxg7+ Bxg7 28.Qd7+ Kf3 29.Qd1+ Ke4 30.Qd3# 17.Rxd7! Rxd7 18.Qh5+ g6 19.Bxe6+!! Kxe6 20.Qxg6+ Bf6 21.Qxf6+ Kd5 22.Qf5 and e6 on the next move is devastating.

Send questions and comments to PTamburro@aol.com.