White to Play

Pete Tamburro on Apr 6, 2026

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The seventh in our series of instructional games. We’re going to comment more on this one for the less experienced players as there are lessons throughout rather than just after the diagram. Przepiorka,D - Patay,J. (B06)Meran, 1926. Here’s the game: 1.e4 g6 2.d4 d6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.Bd3 e6 5.0–0 Ne7 (These days known as the Hippopotamus.)6.Be3 0–0 7.Qd2 (White just sets up his attack with an eye on exchanging bishops.)7...Re8 (Black gets clever about White's plan.)8.Bh6 Bh8 9.Nc3 (At this point, White has four pieces past the second rank. Black--Zero.)9...Nbc6 10.Ne2 d5 11.e5 Nf5 12.Bf4 (Keeping the better dark squared bishop.)12...f6 13.c3 g5?? (A positively dreadful move as it opens up the castled position.)14.Nxg5! fxg5 15.Bxg5 (Now White owns the dark squares.)15...Qd7 16.g4! (Since White controls all the key squares on the kingside, it's ok for him to move his kingside pawns.)16...h6 (There’s a whole lesson in what happens after 16...Nfe7 17.f4 Rf8 18.Ng3 Bg7 19.Nh5 Ng6 20.Rae1 White gets everyone into the game. Good habit to develop. 20...Qf7 21.Nf6+ Kh8 22.Re3 Nce7 23.f5 exf5 24.Rh3! Bxf6 25.Bxf6+ Kg8 26.gxf5 and White's position is overwhelming.)17.gxf5 hxg5 18.f6 (Like a bone in the throat.) 18...Kf7 (SEE DIAGRAM)

19.Bg6+! Kxg6 20.Qd3+ Kh6 20...Kf7 21.Qh7+ Kf8 22.Qxh8+ Kf7 23.Qg7 mate 21.Qh3+ Kg6 22.Nf4+ gxf4 23.Kh1! Bxf6 24.Rg1+ Bg5 25.Rxg5+ Kxg5 26.Rg1 mate. A great lesson in how to attack weak squares and an exposed king.

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