Tartakower's comments are in italics.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6 5.c3 f5
The 'Siesta Gambit' at work.
6.d4
Trying an upheaval of the centre.
Caruana used this move last year to beat Baskaran Adhiban (2655) in a rapidplay game.
6...fxe4
After 6...exd4 7.Bxc6+ bxc6 8.Nxd4 White would have the best of it.
This note is rather puzzling as Black seems fine with 8...fxe4. However the analysis engines Stcokfish10 and Komodo9 give 7.Nxd4 as being very strong for White.
7.Ng5
The crucial moment. An automatic draw would be brought about (as shown in the first instance by Maróczy) by 7.Nxe5 dxe5 8.Qh5+ Ke7 9.Bg5+ Nf6 10.Bxc6 bxc6 11.dxe5 Qd5 (ingeniously maintaining his gain, for if now 12.exf6+ gxf6, White's bishop is pinned) 12.Bh4 Ke6 13.Bxf6 gxf6 14.Qe8+ Kf5 15.Qh5+ Ke6 16.Qe8+ with perpetual check. This draw by sacrifice is reminiscent of the 'Möller Attack' in the 'Giuoco Piano'.
This forced draw featured as recently as last year in a game between players rated 2072 (White) and 1659.
7...exd4
An interesting idea, due to the Russian master Zonosko-Borovsky, is 7...d5 8.dxe5 Bc5.
8.Nxe4
Simplification by 8.Bxc6+ bxc6 9.Qxd4 is essential here.
The engines reckon Black would have a winning advantage with the simple 9...d5. They much prefer Réti's choice.
8...Nf6 9.Bg5
Caruana preferred 9.Nxf6+.
9...Be7
 |
| Réti's next move is a blunder |
*****
*****
*****
*****
10.Qxd4??
Heedless. But even after 10.Bxc6+ bxc6 11.Qxd4 0-0, Black has an advantage in territory, thanks to his open f file. The best, therefore, would be 10.Bxf6 Bxf6 11.Qh5+ g6 (or else 11...Kf8) 12.Qd5, and the chances are approximately even.
10...b5 11.Nxf6 gxf6
Now there are three white pieces 'en prise'.
12.Qd5 bxa4
Black, with two opposing bishops liable to capture, makes a wise selection, for if 12...fxg5, 13.Bb3 saves the piece.
This is incorrect as Black wins with 13...Qd7, saving the c6 knight as well as avoiding mate. However, the engines, and an anonymous annotator in ChessBase's 2019 Mega database, give 13.Bd1!, as now 13...Qd7 is met by 14.Bg4! Qxg4 15.Qxc6+ Kd8 16.Qxa8 Qe6+ with an unclear position.
13.Bh6
Trying to force a way into the enemy camp, as after 13.Qxc6+ Bd7 Black wins.
13...Qd7
The 'coup juste', which defends the threatened knight and vacates a square for the king, parrying the threat of a perpetual check. A terrible blunder would be 13...Bd7 14.Qh5#.
14.0-0
14.Bg7 is not much of an improvement as Black gets the queens off, 14...Qe6+ 15.Qxe6 Bxe6, and then traps White's bishop by 16.Bxh8 Kf7. After 17.Bxf6 Bxf6, Black has two bishops and a lead in development for rook and pawn. The engines reckon Black is clearly winning.
14...Bb7 15.Bg7 0-0-0
After this reply, events crowd fast on one another.
16.Bxh8 Ne5
Putting down his trumps.
17.Qd1
Or, for instance, 17.Qd4 Nf3+ 18.gxf3 Rg8+ 19.Kh1 Bxf3#.
17...Bf3
A break-up sacrifice.
18.gxf3
Or 18.Qd4 Rg8 19.g3 Qh3 etc.
Now White hopes to survive after the continuation 18...Rg8+ 19.Kh1 Qh3 20.Rg1 Rxg1+ 21.Qxg1 Qxf3+ 22.Qg2 etc.
18...Qh3 0-1
Black's last four moves were hammer blows.
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