Improve the Defense

A passing reference to Three Hundred Chess Games in On the Origin of Good Moves sent me back into Siegbert Tarrasch's terrific collection of his games. Although Tarrasch's suggested improvement for his opponent in one game seems reasonable, I was not convinced that Black was already lost at that early point in the game. An hour with the game in question led me to an improvement, and then some time with Komodo revealed an even better idea.

I'm happy that I found the critical position without engine assistance, but even after that point, Black could have given White a tougher task proving the advantage.

Tarrasch,Siegbert -- Mendelsohn,Jozsef [C51]
Breslau, 1879

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Bc5 6.0–0 d6 7.d4 exd4 8.cxd4 Bb6 9.d5 Na5 10.Bb2 Ne7 11.Bd3 0–0 12.Nc3 Ng6 13.Ne2 c5 14.Kh1 Rb8 15.Ne1 Bc7 16.f4

Black to move

16...b5

Tarrasch recommends 16...f6. Komodo would have played the text move.

17.f5 Ne5 18.f6 gxf6

I took a look at 18...g6, but could not find a defense to White's obvious attack. 19.Qd2 Kh8 20.Qh6 Rg8 21.Bxe5 dxe5 22.Nf3 +-.

19.Qc1

Black to move

19...Kg7?

19...f5!? 20.exf5 f6

There was still time for Tarrasch's antidote. Here 21.Qh6 offers White no prospects of victory, but 21.Nf4 maintains an advantage.

Komodo's line, however, shows that Black still had an abundance of resources.

19...c4! 20.Qh6 cxd3 21.Rxf6 dxe2 22.Nf3 Re8 (22...Qxf6 23.Qxf6 Nac4 24.Bxe5 dxe5 and White can force a draw) 23.Ng5

Black to move

Analysis Diagram

23...Qxf6! 24.Qxf6 Bd8 25.Qh6 Nac4 and Black is slightly better.

20.Ng3 Rg8 21.Nh5+ Kh8 22.Nxf6 Rg6 23.Qf4 c4

23...Rxf6 24.Qxf6 Qxf6 25.Rxf6 Kg7

White to move

Analysis Diagram

White is better, but the win is not elementary.

24.Be2 b4 25.Qh4

Black to move

25...Rg7?

25...Rxf6 is more stubborn.

26.Bc1+-

Only now does White have a clear and decisive advantage.

26...Bg4 27.Bxg4 Nxg4 28.Bg5 h6 29.Bxh6 Nxf6 30.Bxg7+ Kxg7 31.Qg5+ Kf8 32.Rxf6 b3 33.axb3 cxb3 34.Nd3 b2 35.Raf1 Qe7 36.Qg6 b1Q 37.Rxf7+ Ke8 38.Rf8+ Kd7 39.Qf5+ 1–0