Tournament Game, Baden-Baden 1925
Savielly Tartakower vs. Jacques Mieses
Annotated by:
last_archimedean
(1564)
Chess opening:
Dutch (A82), Staunton gambit, Tartakower variation
Mieses is normally a most aggressive player, but here his passivity dooms him to quick defeat. |
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1. d4 f5 2. e4
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Tartakower plays aggressively, using the From Gambit. |
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2... fxe4
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The gambit must be accepted. However, this opens an avenue of attack for Tartakower along the KB file. |
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3. Nc3 Nf6 4. g4
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The usual move is 4 B-KN5, but Tartakower springs a novelty. Mieses misses the best response [4... P-KR3]. Alekhine used the "opening surprise" method throughout his career to great success, so Tartakower borrows a page from his playbook. |
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4... d5 5. g5
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Forcing the Knight back to its original square. |
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5... Ng8 6. f3
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Practically forcing Mieses' reply, as 6... B-B4 7 PxP PxP 8 B-QB4 is virtually a won game for White. |
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6... exf3 7. Qxf3
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Applying pressure along the open KB file. With ...N-KB3 impossible, Mieses has no effective way to block an invasion along this route. |
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7... e6 8. Bd3 g6
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To prevent 9 Q-R5 ch. |
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9. Nge2
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Clearing the Rook's path to KB1, augmenting the attack. |
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9... Qe7
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Black has to defend the natural invasion spot at his KB2. |
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10. Bf4
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Throwing another piece forward. White's lead in development is immense. |
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10... c6
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To close off B-N5 ch. |
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11. Be5
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Attacking the immobilized KR. |
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11... Bg7
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Forced. |
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12. Qg3
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Now threatening to win the QN. White's superior mobility and ability to attack the whole board are causing Black's defenses to crumble. |
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12... Na6
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12... N-Q2 would at least threaten to exchange a pair of minor pieces. Black's position is hopeless in any case. |
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13. O-O
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Bringing yet another piece into the attack. |
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13... Bd7
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Black desperately tries to stem the oncoming tidal wave. |
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14. Bd6
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Forcing away the Queen. |
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14... Qd8
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The only square. |
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15. Qf4
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Mieses resigns. White's two mating threats [16 Q-B7 mate and 16 Q-B8 ch! BxQ 17 RxB mate] cannot be parried without ruinous loss of material. |
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