Here are 8 games Harry played against Weaver Adams over 50 years ago. Weaver Adams was then one of the strongest players in the United States who believed that the Bishop's Opening (1.e4 e5 2.Bc4) was a forced win for White. Harry's opinions on this can be seen in the games below.
Boston,MA
Weaver Adams - Harry Lyman
C26
1.e4 e5
2.Bc4 Nf6
3.d3 Bc5
4.Nc3 c6
5.f4 exf4
5...d5 6.exd5 cxd5 7.Bb5 Nc6 8.fxe5 bg4 9.Nge2 Nh5 10.Qd2 Qh4 11.g3 Qh3 12.d4 Bf3 13.Rf1 += was Zukertort - Anderssen 1869.
6.Qf3 d5
7.exd5 Bg4
8.Qxf4 0-0
9.dxc6 Re8
10.Kf1 Nxc6
11.Bd2?
After this innocent looking move White's position collapses with astonishing speed. Better was 11.h3 followed by 12.g4.
11...Re5!
12.Nf3 Rf5
13.Qg3 Nd4
14.Bf4 Bxf3
15.gxf3 Nh5 0-1
February 16, 1940
Boston,MA
Weaver Adams - Harry Lyman
C24
1.e4 e5
2.Bc4 Nf6
3.d3 Nc6
4.Nc3 Bc5
5.f4 d6
6.Nf3
What started out as a Bishop's Opening is now a King's Gambit Declined. Theory now recommends 6...Bg4 for Black.
6...exf4
7.Bxf4 Be6
8.Bb3 0-0
9.Qd2 Bxb3
10.axb3 Re8
11.0-0-0 d5
Harry hates quiet games and forces the issue in the center. An alternate plan was 11...Bb4 and moving up the a pawn.
12.e5 d4
13.exf6 dxc3
14.Qxc3 Bb4
15 Qc4 Qxf6
16.Bg5 Qe6
17.d4!
Theatens 18.d5, so Black is obliged to exchange Queens and give White a mobile pawn center. If 17...Qe2, then 18.d5 Qxg2 19.dxc6 Qxf3 20.Qxb4.
17...Qxc4
18.bxc4 f6
18...Re2 looks playable: 19.d5 Ne5 20.Nxe5 Rxe5 21.Bf4 Re7.
19.Bf4 Bd6
This move gives Black 3 pawn islands. More solid is 19...Rac8.
20.Bxd6 cxd6
21.Rhe1 Kf7
22.b3 a5
23.d5 Ne5
24.Nd4 a4
25.Nb5 Red8
26.Kb2 axb3
27.cxb3
White's Knight has more striking capabilities (e6,b5,f5) than Black's blockading Knight on e5.
27...Ke7
28.Ra1 Kd7
29.Kc3 f5
30.Nd4 g6
31.h4 Ng4
32.Ne6 Rdc8
33.Kd4 Nf6 (33...b6!)
34.b4
Better was 34.c5. Since Black can't capture (34...dxc5 35.Nxc5 Kc7 36.Re7), White plays 35.b4 the next move with a large space advantage.
34...b6
35.c5 bxc5
36.bxc5 Ne4?
Black had to play 36...bxc5 37.Nxc5 Kd8. Perhaps Harry was in time pressure.
37.c6 Ke7
38.Reb1
Black is defenceless against a White Rook on the seventh rank.
38...Rxa1
39.Rxa1 Rxc6
40.Ra7 Kf6
41.Nd8 1-0
March 10, 1940
Boston,MA
Weaver Adams - Harry Lyman
C24
1.e4 e5
2.Bc4 Nf6
3.d3 c6
4.f4 Bc5
4...exf4 5.Bxf4 d5 6.exd5 Nxd5 7.Qf3 Be6 8.Ne2 Nxf4 9.Qxf4 Bxc4 10.Qxc4 Bd6 is good for Black (ECO).
5.Qf3 d5
6.exd5 0-0
7.Nc3
If 7.fxe5, then 7...Re8 8.Bf4 cxd5 9.Bb3 Nc6 with the idea of 10...Nd4 or 10...Nxe5.
7...exf4
8.Bxf4 Re8
9.Kd2
White's King would still be stuck in the center after 9.Nge2: 9...Bg4 10.Qg3 cxd5 11.Bb5 Nc6 - Black threatens 12...Bxe2 13.Nxe2 Qa5 14.Nc3 d4, and 12...Nd4.
9...cxd5
10.Nxd5 Nc6
11.c3
Bad is 11.Nc7 (11.Bg5 Ne4) Be3 12.Be3 Qc7 13.Bf4 Qa5 14.c3 Bg4 15.Qf2 Rad8 with compensation. Good is 11.Bc7 Qd7 12.Nf6 gf 13.Qg3 Kh8 14.c3, and Black is hard pressed to justify his missing pawn.
11...Be6
12.Nf6 Qf6
13.Bxe6 Rxe6
14.Ne2 Rae8
15.Rae1
After this move White's Knight falls under a murderous pin. However if 15.Ng3, then 15...Nd4! gives Black a powerful attack. For example: 16.cxd4 Qxd4 17.Rab1 Bb4 18.Kc2 Qc5 19.Kb3 (19.Kd1 Re1) Rb6 20.a3 Bxa3 21.Ka2 Qc2 22.Bc1 Qb3 23.Ka1 Bb4 with mate.
15...Qe7
16.Bg3
16.d4 Bxd4 17.cxd4 Bb4 wins for Black.
16...Be3
17.Kc2 Rc8
18.Kb1
Loses immediately. White had to play 18.a3 and hope for the best.
18...Bd2 0-1
January 20, 1941
Boston,MA
Weaver Adams - Harry Lyman
C24
1.e4 e5
2.Bc4 Nf6
3.d3 c6
4.Qe2 Be7
5.Nc3 d5
6.Bb3
Black has compensation for the pawn after 6.exd5 cxd5 7.Bb5 Nc6 8.Qxe5 0-0 9.Bxc6 (9.Qg3 Nd4) bxc6. For example: 10.Nge2 Re8 11.0-0 Bd6 12.Qg5 Re5 and 13...Rh5 with dangerous threats against the King.
6...0-0
7.exd5
Harry keeps offering, and White (like most of Harry's opponents!) can't resist. Better though was 7.Nf3 continuing to develop.
7...cxd5
8.Qxe5 Re8
9.Kf1 Nc6
10.Qg3 d4
If now 11.Ne4, then 11...Nxe4 12.dxe4 Nb4 13.Bd2 Be6 gives Black excellent play for the pawn. White instead retreats and finds disaster on the d file.
11.Nce2 Be6
12.c3 Bxb3
13.dxc3 axb3
14.bxc3
14...Ne4!
15.Qf3 Bf6
16.Ra4 Nc5
17.Ra2 Ne5
The pawns on the third rank are toast.
18.Qh3 Nexd3
19.Bd2 Nxb3
20.g4
20.Nf3 Rxe2 21.Kxe2 Ndc1 loses a piece for White. The rest is carnage.
20...Nxf2
21.Kxf2 Nxd2
22.Nf3 Qb6
23.Nfd4 Bxd4
24.Nxd4 Qf6
25.Kg2 Qf4
26.Rd1 Re3
27.Qh4 Nf3
28.Nxf3 Qxf3
29.Kg1 Qxd1 0-1
January 28, 1941
Boston,MA
Weaver Adams - Harry Lyman
C24
1.e4 e5
2.Bc4 Nf6
3.d3 c6
4.Qe2 Be7
5.Nc3
Ubilava - Gulko USSR 1969 went 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Bb3 d5 7.0-0 Bg4 8.h3 Bh5 9.Nbd2 Nbd7 10.c3 Re8 11.Rd1 Bd6 12.Nf1 Nc5 13.Ng3 Bg6 14.Bc2 Ne6 with an equal game.
5...d5
6.Bb3 0-0
7.Bg5 Nbd7
8.Nf3 d4
9.Nd1 Ne8
10.Bd2 Qc7
11.0-0
Better is 11.c3 Nc5 12.Bc2, and if 12...Ne6 then 13.cxd4 exd4 and the move f2-f4 will have more force.
11...Nc5
12.Ne1 a5
13.c3 a4
14.Bc2 Ne6
15.g3
15.a3 dxc3 16.dxc3 Nd6 gives White weaknesses on the Queenside.
15...a3
16.b3 dxc3
17.Bxc3 Bxc5
18.Rc1 f6
19.Kh1 Nd6
20.Ng2 Nb5
21.f4 Nxc3
22.Nxc3 Nd4
23.Qh5 Be6
24.Bd1 g6
Having secured the center Black turns his attentions to the Kingside.
25.Qh6 Qg7
26.Qxg7 Kxg7
27.Ne2
27.Nd5 Bd6 (27...Ba7 28.Nc7) 28.Nb6 Ra6 29 Nc4 offered better chances: 29...Bb8 30.fxe5 fxe5 31.Rxf8 Kxf8 32.Nce3.
27...Bb6
28.Nxd4 Bxd4
29.g4
29...f5!
Harry blows open lines for his Bishops.
30.h3
30.gxf5 gxf5 31.exf5 Bxf5 32.Rf3 e4 33.dxe4 Bxe4 loses a pawn for White.
30...h5!
31.exf5
31.g5 fxe4 32.dxe4 Bxh3.
31...gxf5
32.gxh5
Saves the pawn, but gives Black the long diagonal.
32...Bd5!
33.fxe5
Otherwise Black doubles Rooks on the g file. White, however, now finds trouble on the other side of the board.
33...f4
34.Bf3 Bxb3
35.axb3 a2
36.Ra1 Bxe5
37.Nh4 Ra3
38.Ng6 Bxa1
39.Rxa1 Rfa8
40.Bd1 Re8
41.Bg4 f3
Not 41...Re3 42.Nf4.
42.Bxf3 Re3
43.Be4 Re2
44.Nf4 Rb2
45.d4 Kh6
45...Raxb3 was playable: 46.Rg1 Kf6; 46.h6 Kxh6 47.Rg1 Rb1; 46.Ne6 Kh6 47.Nc5 Rb1 48.Kh2 R6b2 - Black prefers to play it safe.
46.Ng2 Raxb3
47.Kh2 Re3 0-1
The Bishop has no moves: 48.Bg6 Ree2 49.Rg1 Rxg2.
February 3, 1946
Boston,MA
Weaver Adams - Harry Lyman
C26
1.e4 e5
2.Nc3 Nf6
3.Bc4 c6
4.d4 Bb4
5.dxe5 Nxe4
6.Qd4 d5
7.exd6 0-0
8.Bf4 Bf5
Black prefers completing his development over regaining the pawn.
9.0-0-0
Better was 9.Rd1. If 9...Bxc3 10.bxc3 Re8 11.Ne2 c5, then 12.Qd5 Nxc3 13.Qf7 Kh8 14.Qxf5 Nxd1 15.Be5. Castling on the Queenside gives Black a fierce attack.
9...Bxc3
10.bxc3 Qa5
11.Ne2 Nd7
12.Bd3?
White's position was already difficult (12.f3 c5 13.Qe3 Rfe8), but this move leads to a swift demise. White had to try 12.Bb3.
12...c5
13.Qd5
13.Qc4 Nb6 14.Qb3 c4 15.Bxc4 Nxc4 16.Qxc4 Rac8 is also grim.
13...Qa3
14.Kb1 Be6
15.Bc1
Or 15.Qe4 Bxa2 16.Ka1 Bd5 and 17...Bxe4.
15...Qxc1
16.Kxc1 Bxd5
17.Nf4 Bc6
18.Bxe4 Bxe4
19.Rhe1 Re8
20.Re3 Bc6 0-1
May 31, 1948
Boston,MA
Weaver Adams - Harry Lyman
C26
1.e4 e5
2.Nc3 Nf6
3.Bc4 c6
4.d4
Leads to sharp tactics. ECO recommends 4.Nf3.
4...Bb4
5.dxe5 Nxe4
6.Qd4 0-0
7.Bf4
Black has compensation after 7.Qe4 d5 8.Qd4 dxc4 9.Qxc4 Qa5 10.Nf3 Be6 11.Qd3 b5 12.Bd2 Na6.
7...Nxc3
8.bxc3 Qb6
9.Qd2
9.Qd3 Bc5 10.Qd2 d5 11.exd6 Re8 is awkward for White because of the pawn on f2.
9...Qc5
10.cxb4 Qxc4
11.Ne2 d5
12.0-0
The pawn could have been taken: 12.exd6 Re8 13.Be3 Bg4 14.f3 Bf5 15.Nd4 Bg6 16.Kf2 and White is fine.
12...c5
13.bxc5 Nc6
14.Rfe1 Be6
The opposite colored Bishops dilute White's extra pawn.
15.Ng3 Qd4
16.Qc1 f6
17.Be3 Qg4
18.exf6 Rxf6
19.c3 Raf8
20.Qd1 Qc4
21.Qb3 Qh4?!
22.Qxb7 Ne5
Black's Kingside attack dilutes White's two extra pawns, but not the exchange.
23.Bd4 Ng4
24.Bxf6 Qxh2
25.Kf1 Rxf6
26.Qb8 Kf7
27.Re2 h5
28.Rb1
Not 28.Ke1 Qg1 29.Nf1 Nh2.
28...h4
29.Rb7 Kg6
30.Rxe6! Rxe6
31.Qf8?
31.Qc8 would have been very difficult for Black to meet. Harry now wins a piece by force.
31...Ne3!
32.Ke2 Nf5
33.Ne4 Rxe4
34.Kd3 Qxg2 0-1
June 1948
Boston,MA
Weaver Adams - Harry Lyman
C26
1.e4 e5
2.Nc3 Nf6
3.Bc4 Bc5
4.f4 d5?!?
A Harry move straight out of the 19th century. ECO recommends 4...Bxg1 5.Rxg1 d5 6.exd5 0-0 7.d3 Re8 8.f5 e4 with advantage to Black (Havin-Poljak USSR 1948).
5.exd5
The modern treatment is 5.Nxd5 Nxd5 6.Bxd5 c6 7.Bb3 Bxg1 8.Rxg1 Qh4 9.Kf1 Bg4 10.Qe1 Qh2 11.d3 Nd7 12.Qf2 with advantage to White (Kondratjev-Dublinsky USSR 1976).
5...0-0
6.Ne2 Ng4
7.Ne4 exf4
8.Nxc5 Qh4
9.g3 fxg3
10.Nxg3 Nxh2?
Harry gets carried away. 10...Qe7 was no good because of 11.Nce4 f5 12.d6, but 10...Re8 11.Be2 (11.Kf1 Nxh2 12.Rxh2 Qxc4 13.Kg2 Qxc5) b6 12.Nd3 Bb7 13.c4 Nd7 gave fighting chances for the piece.
11.Ne4 Bg4
12.Rxh2! Qxh2
13.Qxg4 Qg1
14.Ke2
Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. White won after
14...f5
15.Qf4 Nd7
16.Qf2 Qxf2
17.Nxf2 Rae8
18.Kf1 Ne5
19.d3 Nxc4
20.dxc4 f4
21.Nge4 Rf5
22.Bd2 h5
23.Re1 Ref8
24.Nc5 g5
25.Re7 R5f7
26.Rxf7 Kxf7
27.Nxb7 and White won 1-0