Littleton – Donner, The Hague 1966

I remarked in the last post that Michael Littleton was lost out of the opening in his game against Donner in the Zonal tournament at the Hague in 1966. A closer look shows that while this is true, it is far from the full story, and in fact in the position in the photograph Littleton is doing quite well.

Donner won a pawn early on, and if he had played 13… Nxe4, White would indeed have been grimly placed. Instead after 13… Bxe4? 14. Qh3 Nd5, the position in the diagram below (and in the photograph) was reached.

Littleton - Donner, The Hague 1966
15. ?

After 15. g6! Nc5 16. gxf7+ Kxf7 17. Ng3 Bg6, Littleton went wrong with the weak 18. Be2? and lost quickly. Instead he would stand better after 18. Bc4!, e.g., 18… Bf6 19. Nxe6! (19. Nh5 is also promising) 19… Nxe6 20. b3 Nxe3 21. Qxe6+ Kf8 22. Qxe3, when White has recovered the pawn with advantage.

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