
Czech King Walks into Chess History
By GM Lubomir Kavalek

Walking is the best way to see the Czech capital, Prague. There is even the Royal Route based on coronation procession of 1458, connecting the Old Town with the Prague castle.
The first official world chess champion Wilhelm Steinitz, born in Prague, based his gambit in the 1860s on a magical stroll of his king. Almost 150 years later, the Prague-born David Navara took his king on a breathtaking march at the grandmaster tournament in Biel, Switzerland.
The French grandmaster Maxime Vachier-Lagrave won the event:

Navara's king-walk made for a memorable tournament. There are not many examples in chess history like this one. The Czech champion prepared it with the computer, but it was not clear how far. I asked and he replied: "My preparation ended with 25... Rg8, I analyzed 25... Rxc5 only." He liked the game, but admitted that the moves 35.Nd5+ and 44.Kg5 could have cost him a half point.

Still, it was like walking into a hornets' nest. Even after the computer assures you that you are not going to be mated, you need to be cautious. There could be a glitch 10 moves down the road. The game was difficult and ended in a complicated rook endgame that still needs to be analyzed further.
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.h3 8.Qd2 d5? 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.0-0-0 Bb4 11.Bc4 8.Qd2 Nbd7 9.f3 h5!? 8...Be7 9.g4 d5!? 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Bg2 Nxe3 12.Qxd8+ Bxd8 13.fxe3 Bh4+ 14.Kf1 Nc6 15.Nc5 Bc4+ 15...0-0 16.Kg1 0-0-0 17.b3 Bg5 18.Re1 Bh4 19.Rb1 Bg5 20.Kf2 Bh4+ 21.Kf3 21.Kg1 Bg5 21...e4+ 22.Kf4! 22.N5xe4 Ne5+ 23.Kf4 Ng6+ 24.Kf3 Ne5+ 22...g5+ 22...Rd6 23.N3xe4 g5+ 24.Kf5 24.Nxg5? Rf6+ 25.Ke4 Bxg5 26.bxc4 Re8+ 27.Kd3 Rxe3+ 28.Kd2 Rb3+-+ 24...Rd5+ 25.Kf6 Rg8 26.bxc4 Rg6+ 27.Kxf7 Ne5+ 28.Kf8 Rd8+ 29.Ke7 Nc6+ 30.Kf7 Ne5+= 22...f5 23.gxf5 g5+ 24.fxg6 Rdf8+ 24...h5 25.bxc4 Rhf8+ 26.Kxe4 Rfe8+= 25.Kxe4 25.Kg4? hxg6 26.bxc4 Ne5# 25...Re8+ 26.Kf3 Ne5+ 27.Ke4 Nc6+= 22...Rd2 23.N3xe4 f5 24.Nxd2 24.gxf5 g5+-+ 24...g5+ 25.Kxf5 25.Kf3 Ne5# 25...Rf8+ 26.Ke4 Re8+ 27.Kf5 27.Ne6? Rxe6+ 28.Kf3 Nd4+ 29.exd4 Be2# 27...Rf8+= 23.Kf5 Rhe8 24.Rhd1! 24.bxc4? Rd6! 25.N3xe4 Re5# 24...Re5+ 24...Ne7+ 25.Kf6 Nd5+ 25...Bd5 26.Bxe4 Rd6+ 27.Kg7 Rg8+ 28.Kxh7 Bxe4+ 29.N3xe4 Rdg6 26.Nxd5 Bxd5 27.c4 Rd6+= 25.Kf6 Rg8 25...Rxc5 26.Rxd8+ Nxd8 27.bxc4 Rxc4 28.Nxe4 Rxc2 29.Nd6+!? Kc7 30.Be4 Rf2+ 31.Ke7 Nc6+ 32.Bxc6 Kxc6 33.Rc1+ 26.bxc4 Rg6+ 27.Kxf7 Re7+ 28.Kf8 Rf6+ 28...Reg7!? 29.Ne6 29.N3xe4 Rg8+ 30.Kf7 R8g7+= 29...Rg8+ 30.Kf7 Ne5+ 31.Ke7 Nc6+ 32.Kd6 Re8 33.Kc5 Rgxe6 34.Rd6 Rxd6 35.Kxd6 Bg3+ 36.Kc5 Re5+ 36...Bb8 37.Nd5 Ba7+ 38.Kd6 Bb8+= 37.Nd5 Re6 38.Nb6+ Kc7 39.Na8+= 29.Kg8 Rg6+ 30.Kh8! 30...Rf6 30...Bg3 31.Rd5! Be5+ 32.Rxe5 Nxe5 33.Rxb7! Rxb7 34.Nxb7 Kxb7 34...Nxc4 35.Kxh7 Rf6 36.Bxe4+- 35.Bxe4++- 31.Rf1! Bf2 32.Rxf2 Rxf2 33.Rf1! Rxg2?! 33...Re8+ 34.Kxh7 Rxg2 35.N3xe4 Re7+ 36.Kg6 b6 37.Nd6+ Kc7 38.Nf5 bxc5 39.Nxe7 Nxe7+ 40.Kxg5 Nc6 34.Rf8+ Kc7 34...Nd8 35.Nd5 Rf7 36.Rg8 35.Nd5+?! 35.N5xe4! Kd7 36.Nf6+ Ke6 37.Ncd5 Rf7 38.Re8+ Kd6 39.Nxh7 39.Kg8 39...Rxc2 40.Nxg5 35...Kd6 36.Nxe7 Kxc5 37.Rf5+ Kxc4 38.Nxc6 bxc6 39.Rxg5 Rg3? 39...Rxc2! 40.Kxh7 Kd3!? 40...Re2 41.h4 Rxe3 42.Rg8 Rg3 43.g5 e3 44.g6 Rh3= 41.Rh5 Kxe3 42.g5 Rc5= 40.h4 h6? 40...Rxe3 41.Kxh7 Rg3 42.h5 e3 43.h6 Kc3 44.Kg6 e2 45.h7 e1Q 46.h8Q+ Kxc2 47.Rc5+ Kb1 48.Qb8+ Ka1! 41.Rg6! 41.Rg8 41...Rxe3 42.Kg7 Rg3 42...Rh3 43.h5 Kd5 44.Kxh6 e3 45.Rg8+- 43.Kxh6 e3 44.Kg5? 44.g5! Kd4 45.Re6 Rg4 46.h5 Re4 47.Rxe4+ Kxe4 48.g6 e2 49.g7 e1Q 50.g8Q 44...Kd5? 44...Kc3! 45.Rxc6+ 45.h5 e2 46.Re6 Kd2 47.h6 e1Q 47...Re3? 48.Rxe3 Kxe3 49.h7 e1Q 50.h8Q 48.Rxe1 Kxe1 49.h7 Rh3 50.Kg6 Kf2 51.Kg7 Kg3 52.h8Q 45...Kd2 46.Rd6+ Kxc2 47.Re6 Kd2 48.Rd6+ Kc2= 45.Kf4? 45.Rg8 Rg2 45...Ke4 46.h5 e2 47.h6 Re3 48.h7 e1Q 49.h8Q+- 46.h5 Rxc2 47.Kf4!+- 45...Rh3? 45...e2! 46.c4+ Kxc4 46...Kd4 47.Re6+- 47.Re6! 47.Rxc6+!? Kd5 48.Rc1 Ra3 49.Re1 Rxa2 50.Kf5 50.h5 Ke6 51.Kf3 Ra3+ 52.Kxe2 Kf6 50...Kd6 51.h5 Ke7 52.Kg6 Kf8 53.h6 Rb2= 47...Rh3 47...Rg2 48.Kf3 Rh2 49.Kg3 Kd5 50.Re8+- 48.Rxe2 Rxh4 49.Rc2+ Kd5 50.Kf5 Kd6! 50...c5 51.Rd2+ Kc4 52.g5 Kc3 52...Rh1 53.g6 Rg1 54.Kf6 Kc3 55.Rd5 c4 56.g7+- 53.Rg2 Rh8 54.g6 c4 55.g7 Rg8 56.Ke4 Re8+ 57.Kd5+- 51.g5 c5?! 51...Ke7 52.Rxc6+- 51...Rh1! 52.g6 52.Rf2 Ke7 53.Rf4 Kf7 52.Kf6 Rf1+ 53.Kg7 c5 54.g6 a5 55.Rc3 Rf2 56.Ra3 c4= 52...Ke7 53.Kg5 53.Rxc6 Rh5+ 54.Ke4 a5= 53...Rg1+ 54.Kh6 Kf8 55.Rxc6 Rh1+ 56.Kg5 Rg1+ 57.Kf6 Rf1+ 58.Ke5 Re1+ 59.Kd6 a5 60.Ra6 Rg1 61.Rxa5 61.Ra8+ Kg7 62.Rxa5 Rxg6+ 61...Rxg6+ 62.Kc7 51...a5!? 52.g6 Ke7 53.Rxc6 Rh5+ 54.Kf4 Rh2= 52.g6 52.Re2 Rh1= 52...Ke7 53.Kg5 Ra4 54.Rxc5 54.Rf2 Ra3 55.g7 Rg3+ 56.Kh6 54...Kf8 55.Rc8+ Kg7 56.Rc7+ Kg8 57.Kf6 Rf4+= 46.h5 c5 46...e2 47.Rg5+ Ke6 47...Kd4 48.Re5 Rh2 49.Re4+ Kc3 50.Kg3+- 48.Re5+ Kf6 49.Rxe2+- 47.Rg5+ Kd4 48.Re5 1–0 - Start an analysis engine:
- Try maximizing the board:
- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
- Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
- Drag the split bars between window panes.
- Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
- Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
- Create an account to access the games cloud.
Navara,D | 2724 | Wojtaszek,R | 2733 | 1–0 | 2015 | B90 | 48th Biel GM tournament | |
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In 1885, one year before he became the world champion, Steinitz launched the International Chess Magazine. In the first issue he published a fascinating game sent to him from India by his friend Robert Steel. It contained the Steinitz Gambit and a remarkable king walk with the board full of pieces. It turned out to be only a variation from Steel's analysis, but it caught the attention of many chess enthusiasts.
Walter Penn Shipley of Philadelphia seemed to know the tricks behind the variation and succeeded to beat Steinitz and Lasker in simultaneous exhibitions in the early 1890s.
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
Please, wait...
1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 exf4 4.d4 Qh4+ 5.Ke2 d5 5...d6 6.Nf3 Bg4 7.Nd5 7.Bxf4 7...0-0-0 8.Kd3 Qh6 9.Bxf4 Qh5 10.c4 f5 11.exf5 Qxf5+ 12.Kd2 Nb4 13.Nxb4 Qxf4+ 14.Kc3 Nf6 15.Kb3 6.exd5 Bg4+ 7.Nf3 0-0-0 8.dxc6 Bc5 9.cxb7+ Kb8 10.Nb5 Nf6 11.c3 11.Kd3 Bxd4!? 12.Nbxd4 12.Nxh4 Be3+ 13.Kc3 Rxd1 12.c3 Bf5+ 13.Kc4 Be6+ 14.Kb4 Bc5+ 15.Ka4 Rxd1 16.Nxh4 Bd7 12...Rxd4+ 13.Kxd4 Qf2+ 14.Kc3 Qc5+ 15.Kb3 Qb6+ 16.Ka3 Qa5+= 11...Rhe8+ 12.Kd3 Bf5+ 13.Kc4 Be6+ 14.Kxc5! 14.Kd3 Bf5+ 15.Kc4 Be6+ 14...a5! 15.Nxc7! 15.Nxh4 Ne4+ 16.Kc6 Bd5# 15...Qh5+ 15...Kxc7 16.Nxh4 Rd5+ 17.Kc4 16.Ne5! Nd7+ 16...Qxd1 17.Nc6+ Kxc7 17...Kxb7 18.Ba6+ 18.Bxf4++- 17.Kb5 Qxd1 18.Bxf4? 18.Nxd7+! Bxd7+ 18...Rxd7 19.Bxf4 Qxa1 20.Kb6! 18...Kxb7 19.Nc5+ Ka7 19...Kc8 20.Bxf4 Qxa1 21.Kc6+- 20.Nxe8 Rxe8 21.Kxa5± 19.Kb6 Re6+ 20.Nxe6+- 18.Nc6+ Kxb7 19.Nxa5+ Ka7 20.Nc6+ 18...Qxa1 19.Ka6 19.Nxd7+ Ka7-+ 19...Kxb7-+ 19...Nxe5 20.Nxe8 20.Bxe5 Bc4+! 21.Bxc4 Rxe5! 22.Rxa1 Rd6# 20...f6? 20...Rd5! 21.Bc4 21.Bxe5+ Rxe5 22.dxe5 Bc4+ 23.Bxc4 Qxh1-+ 21...Qxh1 22.Bxd5 Qf1+ 23.Kb6 Qxf4 24.Bxe6 fxe6 21.dxe5 f5 22.Be3 Rxe8 23.Bb5 23.Ba7+ Kc7 24.Bb6+ Kb8 25.Bc5 Rc8 26.Ba7+ 26.Bd6+ Rc7 26...Kc7 27.Bb6+ Kb8 28.Ba7+= 23...Qxh1 23...Qxb2 24.Ba7+ Kc7 25.Bc5± Qxb5+ 25...Rd8 26.Bb6+ Kb8 27.Ba7+ Kc7 28.Rd1!+- 26.Kxb5 Kxb7 27.Rd1 24.Ba7+ 24.Bc5 Rd8! 25.Ba7+ Kc7 26.Bb6+ 24...Kc7 25.Bc5 Rd8? 25...Bc8! 26.Bb6+ Kb8 27.Ba7+ Kc7 28.Bb6+ 25...Rc8 26.Bb6+ Kb8 27.Ba7+ Kc7 28.Bb6+ 26.Ka7! 1–0 - Start an analysis engine:
- Try maximizing the board:
- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
- Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
- Drag the split bars between window panes.
- Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
- Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
- Create an account to access the games cloud.
Steel,R | - | NN (Analysis) | - | 1–0 | 1885 | C25 | Calcutta | |
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Images of Prague by 500px.com/tomasmegis (ff)
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