Rubinstein -- Heilmann 1905

In October 2012, my wife and I loaded into the SUV our three month old puppies, and two dog crates, and headed to Eden Valley Guest Ranch. I also carried along a book that had recently arrived in the mail, Akiba Rubinstein: Uncrowned King (1994) by John Donaldson and Nikolay Minev. I wrote about this trip and the game annotated here after returning home (see "Practicing Visualization"). The Hauptturnier was a tournament for aspiring masters. Rubinstein scored 12 points in 15 games, finishing in a tie for first. He was then recognized as a master.

Rubinstein,Akiba -- Heilmann,Ernst [D40]
Hauptturnier-A Barmen (2), 1905

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 c5 4.e3 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6

White to move

There are more than 9000 games with this position in Mega Database 2020, reached via several move orders.

6.a3

The main move has been known since Saint Amant played it against Staunton (see "Staunton Annotates").

6...b6

White scores over 70% after this move. Donaldson and Minev call it an error in Akiba Rubinstein: Uncrowned King (1994). Staunton criticizes his own play of this move, calling it "premature" (Chess Player's Companion, p. 342). Daniel Fiske notes this in reference to his own game in the First American Chess Congress, where it was played against him by Napoleon Marache. However, Fiske switches players, asserting that St. Amant played it against Staunton.

6...Ne4;
6...a6;
6...cxd4

7.cxd5! exd5

7...Nxd5 does not fare much better; White wins at least a pawn, according to Donaldson and Minev, citing Minev -- Morcken 1956 (Olympiad). Sherwin -- Chertkof 1957 New Jersey State Championship also offers an instructive reference game.

8.Bb5

First played by Saint Amant in the eleventh match game against Staunton

Black to move

8...Qd6

This move was a novelty at the time that worsens Black's position.

8...Bb7 was played in the two nineteenth century games referenced above. 9.Ne5 Rc8 10.Qa4 Qc7 11.Qxa7 Ra8

(Both players may have studied 11...Be7 12.Bxc6+ Bxc6 13.Qxc7 Rxc7 14.Nxc6 Rxc6 1-0 (50) De Saint Amant,P -- Staunton,H, Paris 1843)

12.Bxc6+ Qxc6 13.Qxa8+ Bxa8 14.Nxc6 Bxc6 1-0 (42) Fiske,D -- Marache,N, New York 1857. The game was published in the book of the tournament, edited by Daniel Fiske. 

8...Bd7 was recommended as an improvement by Saint Amant 9.dxc5 bxc5 10.0-0 Qa5 11.b4 Qb6 12.Ba4 cxb4 13.Nxd5 Nxd5 14.Qxd5 1-0 (46) Wallace,A -- Crane,B, Sydney 1893

9.e4!

This exciting move happens to be the engine's third choice.

9.Ne5 is Komodo's second choice. 9...Bd7 10.Nxd7 Qxd7 11.Qa4 Rc8 12.0-0 Be7 13.e4 Nxe4 14.Nxe4 dxe4 15.Rd1 a6 1-0 (35) Jovanic,O (2476) -- Grbac,B (2190), Porec 2011;

9.dxc5 bxc5 10.e4 is Komodo's top choice

9...Bd7

9...dxe4 10.d5 Nxd5 (10...exf3 11.Qxf3 Nxd5 12.Nxd5 Bb7) 11.Qxd5 Bb7 12.Qxe4+ Be7 13.Bf4 and Black resigned 1-0 Lundin,E -- Staehelin,A, Zuerich 1952

10.e5 Qe7 11.0-0

Black to move

11...Ng8

11...Ng4 12.Nxd5 Qd8 13.Bg5 Ne7

12.Nxd5 Qd8 13.Qa4

Other moves might be a little better if the engine should be heeded, but White's advantage is overwhelming in any case.

13.Re1 Be7 14.e6 fxe6 15.Nf4;
13.e6 fxe6 14.Nf4;
13.dxc5 Bxc5 14.Qa4

13...Rc8 14.Bg5 14...Nge7

White to move

There is something about this position that makes me think of Morphy's Opera Game.

15.dxc5

15.Nc3

15...bxc5 16.Rad1 a6 17.Qxa6 Nd4

17...Nb8 18.e6 Nxa6 19.exd7+ Qxd7 20.Bxd7+ Kxd7 21.Nxe7+

18.Nxd4 cxd4 19.Rxd4 1-0

Rubinstein's play was exemplary. I return to this game from time to time and marvel at how Heilmann's game fell apart so quickly.