I then turned to the book I am going through for light reading, 500 Master Games Of Chess by Tartakower and du Mont, and found I had reached the following game (notes in italics from 500 Master Games Of Chess).
Harry Pillsbury - Siegbert Tarrasch
Monte Carlo 1903
Ruy Lopez, Schliemann Defence
A memorable game, aptly named "a battle of giants," between the two leaders in the tournament.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 f5!? 4.Nc3
The most logical reply, calm and energetic at the same time.
4.Nc3 is White's most successful try in ChessBase's 2019 Mega database, although 4.d3 is increasingly popular, having been recommended in several repertoire books.
4...Nf6
Contesting the centre, whereas after 4...fxe4 5.Nxe4 he would lose his hold there, with a hostile piece established in the middle of the board.
Today 4...fxe4 is overwhelmingly more popular, with the key decision being whether Black meets 5.Nxe4 with 5...d5 or 5...Nf6.
5.exd5
Less good is 5.Qe2, because of 5...Nd4 with complications.
Michael Adams is among strong players who have tried both 5.exd5 and 5.Qe2.
5...e4
A close struggle ensues around this pawn. Less consistent would be 5...Bc5 6.0-0 0-0 (Black's sixth move is missing in my Dover edition, but I feel sure 6...0-0 was intended) 7.Nxe5 Nxe5 8.d4, and White has a dominating position.
6.Qe2
He could besiege, or even undermine, Black's e pawn by 6.Ng5 d5 7.d3 Bxf5 8.dxe4 dxe4 9.Qe2.
Tarrasch faced this line three years later against Dawid Prezepiorka in the German chess federation's annual congress. Tarrasch played 9...Bd6, a move that has not found favour since, and was in trouble after the simple 10.Bxc6+ bxc6 11.Qc4, but won in 37 moves.
6...Qe7
He immediately occupies the critical e file, whereas after 6...d5 7.d3 White could proceed there with his work of dissolution.
7.Bxc6
Necessary, for if at once 7.Ng5 (or 7.Nh4), there follows 7...Nd4.
7...bxc6 8.Nh4 d5 9.d4 a5
Preparing for the intensified action of his queen's rook, which is to make up for his lost pawn.
9...exd3 would have transposed to Schapiro - Tartakower, Barmen 1905 (0-1, 22 moves).
10.Bg5 Ba6
A necessary measure.
11.Bxf6 Qxf6 12.Qh5+ Kd7
Instead of the pusillanimous 12...Qf7, Black has to play 'va-banque' (all-in).
13.Ng6
But White also has to take the doubtful course of material gain at the cost of his development. There would, indeed, be little attraction in 13.0-0-0 Be7 14.g3 Qg5+ 15.Qxg5 Bxg5+ 16.Kb1 Raf8 17.Rdg1 Rhg8 etc, and Black prepares to recover his pawn.
13...Qxd4
Forced. If 13...Rg8, 14.Ne5+.
14.Nxh8
For the time being, White is a whole rook ahead, but his king is in difficulties.
14...Bc5 15.Qh4 Rxh8 16.Rd1 Qb4
More effective than either 16...Qc4 or 16...Qe5.
Stockfish10 and Komodo9 much prefer 16...Qe5, but the position is unclear. Stockfish10 for quite some time reckons 16...Qe5 is winning for Black, eventually settling on Black 'just' having the upper hand, whereas Komodo9 has Black only slightly better.
17.Qg4
A very promising counteraction. He cannot play 17.Qxe4 because of 17...Re8.
17...Kd8
 |
| White to make his 18th move |
*****
*****
*****
*****
18.Qxg7?
This looks to be the losing move. The engines, rather unusually, agree on a long best-play line: 18.a3 Qxb2 19.Qxg7 Re8 20.Rb1 Qxc2 21.Rb8+ Bc8 22.0-0 e3 23.fxe3 Qd3 23.Rf3 Rxe3 24.Rf3 Rxe3 25.Qg8+ Ke7 26.Qg7+ with perpetual check.
18...Re8 19.Qf6+ Kd7 20.a3 Qb6
Avoiding the trap 20...Qxb2 21.Nxd5.
21.Rd2
If 21.Kd2, Bd4.
21...e3 22.fxe3 Bxe3 23.Nxd5
If 23.Kd1, Qxb2. In his precarious position, White decides not only to give back the exchange but to give up a piece as well.
23.Bxd2+ 24.Kxd2 Qf2+ 25.Kd1
Clearly not 25.Kc1 Re1+ 26.Rxe1 Qxe1#.
25...Qe2+
A necessary interim check; he protects his own bishop and then proceeds to win the piece.
26.Kc1 cxd5 (0-1, 83 moves)
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