The name Milorad Boca Bošković is not widely known in chess circles. However, he was a talented individual from Belgrade's Partizan team in the early 20s, who, in addition to chess, was also involved in athletics (high jump).
By chance, or on purpose - his "brief visit" to his relatives in New York turned into... a 40-year stay. He played chess rarely, from time to time.
Samjeul Sami Reševski was one of the best chess players of his time. He was winning the strongest tournaments even before World War II. For a long time - until the appearance of Fischer - he was the strongest player in the West - a participant in the Candidates' Match, a serious rival to the undisputed Soviets. However, at the 1984 Marshall Club Championship in New York, Milorad Boca Bošković recorded an impressive victory.
Four knights game
Boskovic - Reševski
Marshal Club, 1984.
Comments: VMB Ivkov
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d4 ed4 5.Nd5
Boca's style seemed to not suit the American masters: he played "irregular" openings and defenses. As white, the Trajković Gambit, as black the Spanish Gambit, and still some oddities...
5.Nxe4
With 5…Be7, Black would avoid all the underwater mines he will encounter in this opening.
6. De2 f5 7.Sg5 d3 8.cd3 Sd4 9.Dh5+ g6 10.Dh4 c6. 11.dxe4 cxd5
12.ed5 Da5+ 13.Ld2 Da4
The rook remains "hanging", but the threat has also reached the white queen. The old fox was probably rubbing his hands contentedly in that position.
14. Dg3 Sc2+ 15. Kd1 Sxa1+ 16. b3 Dg4+
This was supposed to end all of Black's problems.
17. Dxg4 fxg4
Now Black has one more clean rook, and the queens have been exchanged.
18. Lb5!! Le7 19.d6
I feel like Morphy would play like this too!
19…Bf6 Re1+ Kf8 21. Ne4 Bg7 22.Bg5
Now all of White's pieces are in action on the king, while Black's entire queenside, including the rook on h8, is "sleeping dead." What's the point of having an extra rook?!
22…h6 23.Le7+ kg8 24.Sf6+ 25.Lxf6 Th7 26.Te7!! Txe7 de7 Kf7 Ld3!!
Black surrenders.
Bonus video:
