Pierre Charles Fournier de Saint-Amant - Notable Games

Notable Games

Saint-Amant vs. Staunton, 1843
a b c d e f g h
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
Position after 22.d5!
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8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
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Position after 23...Qd8

Reuben Fine writes that although Saint-Amant lost his epic match against Staunton, in the 13th match game, playing White, "he at least had the satisfaction of winning the most brilliant game."

1. d4 e6 2. c4 d5 3. e3 Nf6 4. Nc3 c5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. a3 Be7 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O b6 9. b3 Bb7 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Bb2 cxd4 12. exd4 Bd6 13. Re1 a6 14. Rc1 Rc8 15. Rc2 Rc7 16. Rce2 Qc8 17. h3 Nd8 18. Qd2 b5 19. b4 Ne6 20. Bf5 Ne4 21. Nxe4 dxe4 22. d5! (see first diagram) exf3?

22...Bf4! was essential.

23. Rxe6! Qd8 (see second diagram)

Of course not 23...fxe6 24.Bxe6+, winning the queen.

24. Bf6!! gxf6 25. Rxd6! Kg7

If 25...Qxd6, 26.Qxh6 forces mate. Black could resign here.

26. Rxd8 Rxd8 27. Be4 fxg2 28. Qf4 Rc4 29. Qg4+ Kf8 30. Qh5 Ke7 31. d6+ Kxd6 32. Bxb7 Kc7 33. Bxa6 Rc3 34. Qxb5 1–0

In the 9th match game, Saint-Amant had pulled off an extraordinary swindle, which grandmaster Andrew Soltis considers the greatest ever perpetrated in match play.

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