The Spanish Four Knights, Part Two

White to play and win material.

White to play and win.

My fascination with the Spanish Four Knights continues with an examination of the wonderful fighting game Apsenieks-Fine, Stockholm Olympiad 1937. After Apsenieks wins (or Fine sacrifices?) the Exchange (see first diagram above), Black gains a potentially dangerous counter-attack that challenges Apsenieks to hang onto his material advantage. Though his play likely could be improved, Apsenieks succeeds admirably and turns the tables on his opponent with a startling final blow (see second diagram). A "manly" slugfest of a game and typical of what the Spanish Four Knights can produce when the players disdain the famously drawish lines.

If you are interested in learning more, check out Part One of this series on Sutovsky's Anti-Rubinstein 5.O-O! and my Spanish Four Knights (C48) Bibliography.