Daniel Abraham Yanofsky

A Tribute to the first Grandmaster in the Commonwealth

by GM Kevin Spraggett

Abe always brought out the best in me, and I have never considered it anything but an honor and a privilege to sit down and lock horns with Canada's first Grandmaster. When confronted with a living legend, many players become nervous, start to lose their heads and have difficulty playing to their normal level. I belong to that other group of players who always tries to give just a little more when faced with this situation. Always very conscious of the rarity of such an occasion, as well as its possible historical relevance, I inevitably try to rise to the occasion.

Though the games I am going to present here were played long after Abe had passed his peak, they represent my very best efforts. Even today, as I look back on these memorable confrontations, I am impressed with my enthusiasm and energy of play! Each has a special significance for me, and although the results of these encounters were not as favorable to Abe as they could have been, there can be no doubt about the class, the courage and the uncompromising spirit of struggle that my opponent demonstrated! I have often tried to imagine what it must have been like to be on the other side of the board when Abe was in his prime...

Game One

Calgary, summer of 1975. My first Canadian Zonal Championship and a great opportunity to test myself against the nation's elite! I was a little nervous, but what made this event particularly special was the fact that Abe had decided to participate after an absence of many years from championship play.

My own opportunity to play the man who had personally known both Alexander Alekhine and Jose Raoul Capablanca, and who had beaten the great Mikhail Botvinnik shortly before he became World Champion, came in the second round and with the Black pieces. I very much wanted to make a good impression against Abe, and this was only my second ever game against a Grandmaster. In many ways this game represented the 'new' generation versus the 'established' generation.

Notes by

Kevin Spraggett

Yanofsky, Abe
Spraggett, Kevin

Calgary zt (6), 1975

Sicilian B46

1.e4

Abe was a big believer in 1.e4.

1...c5

At the time I knew no other defense.

2.Nf3 e6 3.d4

Abe always strove for active, open play.

3...cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 a6 6.g3

This move was popularized by Fischer, and is probably White's best choice in this position.

6...Nge7

I had already defeated Peter Biyiasis with this move in 1973. Taimanov also often played it, but today I am not so certain about how good it is.

7.Bg2

The most logical move. Later 7.Nb3!? d6 8.a4³ came into vogue.

7...Nxd4 8.Qxd4 Nc6 9.Qd1!

Typical of Abe's practical style of play. The queen can go to other squares, e3 or d3, or d2 as Biyiasis played against me. However, with the queen on d1 White has more options, and the extra advantage of keeping Black guessing. My game with GM elect Peter Biyiasis from the 1973 Quebec Open continued with 9.Qd2 Be7 10.b3 0-0 11.Bb2 Qc7 12.0-0-0 d6 13.Kb1 b5 14.f4 Rd8 15.Rhe1 Bf8 16.Qe3 Rb8 17.Rd2 Bd7 18.Red1 b4 19.Ne2 a5 20.f5 e5 21.f6 g6 22.h4 h6 23.Bf3 a4 24.g4 Ra8 25.Ng3 axb3 26.cxb3 Qa5 27.Ba1 Na7 28.Be2 Nb5 29.Bxb5 Bxb5 30.Ne2 d5! and a big plus for Black, which he soon converted.

9...Be7 10.0-0 0-0

Black should avoid 10...b5?! 11.a4 b4 12.Nd5 exd5 13.exd5 Ne5 14.d6.

11.a4 d6 12.Be3 Bd7 13.Ne2!

Abe's plan to gain space on the queenside is simple but clear. He tries to make every move count by either improving his own position, or trying to create weaknesses in his opponent's. It is this 'make every move count' theme that can be found in all of his games.

13...Rc8

After 13...b5!? 14.axb5 axb5 15.Qd2 Ne5 16.b3 Qc7 17.h3³ White has control of all entry points, and can start advancing on the kingside. The Black ¹/b5 might be a little loose.

14.f4 Na5?!

This doesn't turn out so well. Simpler is 14...Qc7.

15.b3 Qc7 16.c4 b5

Consistent. At the time I didn't see anything immediately wrong with my choice, but Black is playing with fire and should have tried something else. I wanted to justify my knight sortie to a5.

17.axb5 axb5

18.c5!

A nice touch! I underestimated this move, but fortunately for me Black can hang on.

18...d5!?

I am not certain if the ending after 18...dxc5 19.Rxa5 Qxa5 20.Qxd7 Rc7 21.Qd2 Qxd2 22.Bxd2 c4 23.bxc4 bxc4 24.Rc1³ is lost for Black, but Abe would have been able to make his opponent suffer for a long time. The two bishops are a particularly annoying factor in this type of ending.

19.Kh1?!

With this move Abe throws away all of his advantage. After 19.b4! Nc4 20.Bf2 dxe4 21.Bxe4 White's position is simply better because of the protected and passed ¹/c5. Black's N/c4 only appears active, and little by little White should be able to increase the pressure with Qc2, Nd4, and eventually Ra6.

19...b4!

Abe said after the game that he had underestimated this move. It was just my luck that now the ¹/c5 becomes impossible to defend in the long run, and that ¹/b3 will require permanent care.

20.exd5 exd5 21.Rc1!?

Probably best, as 21.Qxd5 Be6 (maybe 21...Bg4!? is better) 22.Qf3 Nxb3 23.Rab1 Bxc5 offers Black some chances; and 21.Bxd5 Rfd8 hands over the initiative.

21...Bg4!

Black's best option, as he will be able to increase the pressure on White's weaknesses, while tying down his opponent's pieces.

22.Bf3!

Not really a decision that one makes lightly, as now White's king becomes a little exposed. However, 22.Re1 is very passive, and alternatives are less promising. Looking back on this game, I am quite impressed with Abe's cold bloodedness.

22...Bxf3+ 23.Rxf3 Qb7 24.Kg2 Rcd8!?

Is the other rook better? Black's idea is to leave open the possibility of using the e-file for the king's rook.

25.Bd4

This seems like a strange move at first sight, but Abe has a spirited if risky plan in mind: he wants to provoke the advance of the d/¹!

Normal would be 25.Nd4!? Nc6 26.Nxc6 Qxc6 27.Bd4 Rfe8 28.Re3 Bf8 29.Rxe8 Rxe8 30.Qd3 Re4!?

25...Nc6 26.Bf2!?

All acording to plan. 26.Qd3 Rfe8 27.Re3 is unclear.

26...d4!

Black has his own ideas about the position! The isolated center pawn indicates that the initiative is very important.

27.Qd3 Rd5!

Ditto the last remark. Black's ideas now include doubling behind the center pawn and attacking ¹/c5. The game is very sharp, and probably in dynamic equilibrium.

28.Qe4!

This is the whole point of Abe's conception. White will reorganize his forces and tie down his opponent's pieces. Certainly White will lose ¹/c5 at some stage, but Abe had already decided earlier to get rid of it. Besides, once the pawn is lost the White pieces will be more active than Black's, and this should be enough to compensate for the small material deficit.

28...Qd7 29.Rd3 Bxc5

White replies to 29...Re8!? with 30.Qf3.

30.Ra1

Black is up a pawn, but his pieces seem glued to the defense of his extra pawn.

30...Re8 31.Qf3 Rf5!

I am very proud of this move. Black seeks active play, and just gets 'stuck' in alternative lines.

32.Rad1?

This move spoils Abe's whole conception, since now Black wins the exchange, and with it the game. The logical execution of White's plan is 32.Rd2! Ne5 33.Qe4 Nc4 (33...Nc6 34.Qf3=) 34.Ra8! Rfe5! (this is the move that Abe saw during the game that frightened him, but on closer inspection White can hold) 35.fxe5 Nxd2 36.Rxe8+ Qxe8 37.Qd5 Qc8! (Black has some nasty threats in ...Qa6 and ...Qg4 but there is no win) 38.Nxd4 Qa6 39.Bg1! Qf1+ 40.Kh1 Qe1 41.Kg2 Qe4+?! 42.Qxe4 Nxe4 43.Nc6 and it is not clear who is better in the endgame!

32...Ne5 33.Rxd4 Bxd4 34.Rxd4 Qxd4 35.Nxd4 Nxf3 36.Nxf5 Ne1+ 37.Kf1 Nc2 38.Nd6 Rd8 39.Bc5 Rd7!

Now the threat 40...Rc7 is decisive, because White's ¹/b3 falls.

40.Nc4 Rc7 41.Bd6 Rxc4! 42.bxc4 b3 43.Be5 Ne3+

A game filled with interesting ideas!

0-1.

After the game Abe and I analyzed for more than half an hour in front of a big crowd. I was quite excited and, together with the other players at the tournament, maybe even a little surprised by my victory. The thing that impressed me most about our postmortem was Abe's calm and very detached demeanor. The fact that he had lost to an unknown player did not in any way shake him, and his voice did not betray even a hint of annoyance with himself.

I remember that Abe never lost his sense of objectivity. When analyzing variations he focused on lines of play that had concrete, logical ideas. He wasn't interested in unclear sacrifices or fanciful variations. For Abe the truth in a game of chess was always more important than gaining the point through tricky and perhaps even incorrect play. I have since always tried to emulate Abe's professionalism and complete self control in my own postmortems, though I have to admit that my own efforts have not always been as successful.

Over the next two weeks of the tournament I had many chances to speak with Abe. Many of the players would go out and eat after the game, and for all of us these were very memorable occasions! We would talk about the great players of the past, the present and the future. Abe's knowledge and great experience contributed enormously to my understanding of the chess world. His reminiscences of the great Alekhine and Capablanca, not to mention Botvinnik, Euwe, and Fischer were priceless, and one could easily sense his great respect for chess culture.

Game Two

I didn't have to wait too long for another chance to play against Canada's most famous chess player. In the spring of 1976 Abe was invited to play in a Montreal weekend tournament held in honor of his 50th birthday. The entire Montreal chess community was excited to meet him.

Before the last round I held a half point lead over Abe, and he was once more behind the White pieces in the decisive game. Abe needed to win in order to overtake me, and thus we produced one of the most complex and interesting games of my career!

Notes by

Kevin Spraggett

Yanofsky, Abe
Spraggett, Kevin

Montreal (5), 1976

Sicilian B33

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5

Abe always believed in logical moves. Even though he was not a great opening theoretician - his busy life never permitted him the luxury to spend the required time - he never was afraid of entering the most complicated variations: Abe had strong chess beliefs and never doubted them.

7...a6 8.Bxf6

The critical line. The immediate retreat of the knight to a3 leads to less complex play, and therefore did not suit Abe who needed to win.

8...gxf6 9.Na3 b5 10.Nd5 f5 11.exf5 Bxf5 12.Qf3!?

This move is considered dubious today, but I still give Abe an exclamation mark for the courage to force his opponent into entering seemingly unfathomable complications. Today the quiet 12.c3 is considered best. However, as the analysis will indicate, this evaluation is not so clear cut.

12...Nd4!

Virtually forced, since after 12...Be6?! 13.Nf6+ Ke7 14.c3 Black is in trouble.

13.Qd1!?

Played after some ten minutes reflection. Today the opening books dismiss Abe's choice; in my opinion too lightly, since it does achieve Abe's objective of drawing fire upon himself while maintaining a very imbalanced position. However, the alternative 13.Nc7+ is not without danger after 13...Qxc7 14.Qxa8+ Ke7 15.c3 b4! 16.cxb4 Qb6! and complex play that favors Black. Not advisable is 13.Nf6+? Ke7 14.Nd5+ Ke6!

13...Be4

Black has to do something about c3. I also considered 13...Be6 but felt that my move was more dynamic. However, to be perfectly honest, I am not sure if my move is better than the simple retreat 13...Be6 14.Ne3 d5 15.c3 Nc6 16.Qh5!?

14.Ne3 Bh6!?

Better than 14...Bg7?! 15.c3 Nc6 16.Bd3! with an edge to White.

15.Qg4!?

Abe wants to stop any nonsense involving ...Qh4 excursions, and it is important that Black is winning after 15.c3?! Bxe3 16.fxe3 Qh4+ 17.g3 (17.Kd2 Qf2+) 17...Qf6!

However, the alternative 15.Bd3!? may cause a reevaluation of the entire line. White sacrifices a pawn for a very unclear middlegame position after 15...Bxe3 16.Bxe4 Qh4 (16...Bxf2+? 17.Kxf2 Qh4+ 18.Ke3!«) 17.0-0 Qxe4! (17...Bxf2+ 18.Rxf2 Qxe4 19.c3 Ne6 20.Qxd6 with counterplay) 18.fxe3 Qxe3+ (18...Rg8!? 19.Rf2 Qxe3 20.c3 with the initiative) 19.Kh1 Rg8 20.c3. Certainly White's position would not be without its advocates.

15...Bg6 16.c3

It now looks as if Black is running out of steam.

16...b4!?

I wanted to keep the White king pinned in the center and open up lines for my two bishops. However, in doing so Black takes big risks, and it seems that Abe's plan is working. He has the position he wants, and my extra half point means very little here. Also possible is 16...Ne6 17.Rd1 0-0 18.Nf5.

17.Nac4

Abe decides to handle the position in such a way that brings into play his offside knight. This simplicity was also a hallmark of his play. However, it is entirely possible that this move is not best, since the position now loses some complexity! No good is 17.cxd4? bxa3 18.bxa3 Qa5+ but 17.cxb4!? f5 (not 17...Qb6?! 18.Nd5 Qb7 19.Bc4 Rc8 20.b3) 18.Qh3 (or 18.Qd1 Qb6 19.Nd5 Qb7÷) 18...Bg5!?÷ remains unclear.

17...bxc3 18.bxc3 Bxe3 19.Nxe3 Qa5 20.Rc1 d5

I have to do something to prevent the upcoming Bc4.

21.Qg5! 0-0 22.Bd3?!

Here Abe's intuition fails him, and he gets into trouble trying to force the play. Best may be 22.Qxe5!? Nc2+ 23.Rxc2 Bxc2 24.Ng4! Rfe8 25.Nf6+ Kf8 26.Nd7+ Kg8 27.Nf6+ with a draw by perpetual check; while 22.Ng4 is also critical after 22...f5! 23.Nf6+ Kh8 (23...Rxf6 24.Qxf6 Qa3 25.Kd1 Qa4+ 26.Ke1 Qa3=).

22...Ne6

Another approach is 22...Rfc8!?

23.Qxe5

Now Abe has to play dangerously, since 23.Qg3 Nf4 is much better for Black.

23...Bxd3 24.Nxd5

After 24.Ng4 Ng7! Black has blocked all of the threats.

24...Qc5! 25.Rd1

Here 25.Qg3+ Bg6! is clearly insufficient for White.

25...Bc4?!

Fritz6 prefers 25...Rfe8.

26.Rd4! f6! 27.Qxe6+ Kh8 28.Qb6

The remainder of the game was played in severe time trouble for both players.

28...Qa3 29.Qb4?

This should lose. Better is 29.Rxc4 Rae8+ (29...Rab8 30.0-0!? Rxb6 31.Nxb6÷) 30.Ne3 Qc1+ 31.Ke2 Qxh1 32.Qd6 with an unclear position.

29...Qc1+ 30.Rd1 Rae8+ 31.Ne7

Here, with my flag hanging and only needing half a point, I offered the draw that can no longer be refused. During the postmortem we found a number of ways for Black to win, and the conclusion may have been something like 31...Rxe7+ 32.Qxe7 Qxc3+ 33.Rd2 Rb8 34.f4 (34.Qe4 Rd8) 34...Rb1+ 35.Kf2 Qxd2+ etc.

1/2-1/2.

I remember that Abe congratulated me after this difficult game on winning the tournament, and he also paid me a compliment by saying that my analysis had improved since our first encounter! We searched for a long time in an effort to reach a conclusion about the opening play, but without coming to any clear conclusions. It is an unfortunate omission that many theoreticians have ignored this game.

I was quite impressed with how fearlessly Abe went into such mind-boggling complications! Part of it undoubtedly was his motivation to exact revenge for his loss to me in our first game; but mostly the truth is that Abe was a very courageous player, and I am certain that this quality was already noticed by Alekhine way back in 1939!

Game Three

Over the next ten years Abe and I were not destined to meet over the board again. We met occasionally, but for the most part Abe played only in tournaments in western Canada, and I rarely travelled that way in those days. I was pleased when I heard that he was to play in the 1986 Canadian Zonal. Abe was by that time retired from his law practice, and played in the event purely for practice and his own diversion. However, as I wrote in my introduction, every opportunity to play Abe brought out my very best. Perhaps the ending in this game is my best achievement in this phase of the game up to that time.

Notes by

Kevin Spraggett

Yanofsky, Abe
Spraggett, Kevin

Winnipeg zt, 1986

English A31

1.d4

Abe decides this time to avoid the messy positions that ocurred in the first two games.

1...Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.Nf3 cxd4 4.Nxd4 b6!?

At the time I was a big believer in this system.

5.Nc3 Bb7 6.Nf3!?

This move is not given in any opening books, and it indeed seems strange at first impression. However, it is very logical, especially from Abe's point of view on that day: he only wanted a solid position to make a draw. It is worth pointing out that Abe always played with a realistic attitude. He provoked complications when it suited him, and he played simply if he preferred a calm position on a given day.

6...e6 7.e3 Be7 8.Be2 0-0 9.0-0 d6 10.b3 a6 11.Bb2 Nbd7

Black is trying for a hedgehog.

12.Nd4!?

This move is characteristic of Abe. He isn't interested in moving his queen just to connect his rooks, and only later decides on what to do. He plans to neutralize my bishop right away with Bf3 and there is no reason to delay this.

12...Qc7 13.Bf3 Rac8 14.Rc1 Nc5 15.Bxb7 Qxb7 16.Qe2

The position is now about equal. Decidedly worse however is 16.Qf3?! Qxf3 17.Nxf3 Nd3!

16...Rc7 17.Rfd1 Rfc8 18.Qf3 Qb8!?

Typical of the hedgehog: Black doesn't care about space! In as much as we later exchange queens I could have done so immediately, but decided to defer such a 'draw offer' until some later time.

19.Qe2

A gentleman's offer of a draw. Abe coaxes me into returning to the long diagonal with my queen, followed by a repetition with 20.Qf3.

19...Bf8 20.h3 h6 21.Nf3 Qb7 22.Kh2 Re8

This part of the game is typical of the hedgehog also: seemingly aimless maneuvering aimed at provoking the opponent to create weaknesses or sharpen the play.

23.Re1 Nfe4 24.Nxe4 Nxe4 25.Nd4 Rb8 26.Rc2 Rbc8 27.Rec1 Nc5 28.Rd1 Nd7 29.Kg1 Ne5 30.Rcd2

I think this is the point where Abe underestimates my setup. The rook should remain and await the opening of the c-file.

30...Nd7 31.Qf3?!

This move allows Black to strike back on the queenside.

31...b5! 32.Qxb7 Rxb7 33.cxb5 axb5 34.e4!? Nf6 35.f3?!

This creates an annoying weakness on e3 and so it was better to play 35.Re2 d5 36.exd5 Nxd5 37.a3 with a waiting game.

35...d5 36.exd5

After 36.e5 Nd7 37.Re2 Black is also better.

36...Nxd5 37.Ra1

Black gets in after 37.a4 bxa4 38.bxa4 Bb4.

37...b4 38.Ne2

Black has tied down White's queenside pawns and can now go to work with his mobile kingside majority. He has a clear advantage. Not good at all is 38.a4? bxa3 39.Bxa3 Ra7.

38...Be7 39.Bd4 Rbc7­ 40.g3 Rc2 41.Rad1 h5 42.h4 f6 43.Kf2 Kf7 44.f4

White is forced to create more weaknesses in his position, but Abe must stop my creaping advance into his position at some point.

44...g6 45.Kf3 R2c6 46.Rh1 Nc7 47.Rc1 Rxc1 48.Nxc1 Ne8 49.Ne2 Nd6 50.Bb2 Nf5 51.Ba1 Rc5!

Soon Black will play ...e5 and create a passed pawn.

52.Bb2 Ra5 53.Bc1 e5 54.Rc2 Ke6! 55.fxe5 fxe5 56.Bg5

White's loss is now just a question of time. Hence Abe tries to mix it up a little by confusing the position.

56...Bd6 57.g4 hxg4+ 58.Kxg4 Nd4

59.Nxd4+?!

This exchange should be avoided, as my d/¹ will be harder to defend against than my e/¹. Therefore 59.Rd2 Nxe2 60.Rxe2 Bc5 61.Rd2 Bd4 is a little better.

59...exd4 60.Bf4 Rf5! 61.Bxd6 Kxd6 62.h5

Abe tries desperately to rush his king back to stop my d/¹. Here 62.Rc8 Kd5 63.Rd8+ Ke4 64.Rg8 d3 is also hopeless.

62...Rxh5 63.Kf3 Rd5

But an extra pawn is an extra pawn!

64.Rg2 d3 65.Rxg6+ Kc5 66.Rg1 Kd4

And the king helps slide the pawn all the way home. I am quite proud of my endgame play here, since it wasn't easy to break down Abe's stubborn defense.

0-1.

Sometimes one likes to imagine what would happen if two champions were to meet when both are in their prime. Would there be any big surprises? Who would prove himself the better player, and what is the 'absolute' truth? I don't know what would what these answers to these questions are if I were to have met Abe when he was still in his prime. I do know that I had my hands full when he was far from it! To me there is no doubt that Abe Yanofsky was a great player, and that is what I sensed when I played him.

Abe and I met a couple of times over the next few years at the Canadian Open tournaments in Winnipeg in 1994 and 1997. Abe's health by that time had slipped quite a bit, so he preferred to spectate rather than play. At those times I enjoyed the brief conversations I had with him, and I especially remember the last time I saw him: I had just won a beautiful game against the Icelandic player Johann Hjartarson, and Abe congratulated me on a nice maneuver from that game. We chatted a bit more about what was happening in our daily lives, and then he asked me if I still enjoyed playing chess professionally. I told him that I did, and he said that that was good...

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