backrank: Quite impressive game. It shows Mieses' mastership in handling open positions with no pawn center. He turns a dubious opening into a dangerous weapon. After 14. ... Bd6 Black is already better, but it's nevertheless surprising how quickly he turns his advantage into a devastating attack. After 20. ... Rb6!, 21. Na4? is impossible due to 21. ... Bxb2+! 22. Nxb2 Qa3.
It's worth taking a look at the alternatives after 21. ... Qe3+:
I 22. Kb1 Rxb2+!, since after 23. Kxb2 the Nc3 is pinned, so that it can't retake the rook after Rxd1.
II 22. Rd2 Rxb2!, now with a different point: after 23. Kxb2 Qxc3+ leads to mate, while the 'refutation' 23. Nd1 is refuted by Rxa2!!
After 23. bxc3 (instead of accepting the Queen sac) Qc5! White is equally lost, e.g. 24. Rde1 Qa3+ 25. Kd1 Qxc3, and the threat of Rb1+ is decisive.
The last point in the game is that after 27. Kd1 (instead of the useless return of the Queen) Bf4+! the caged King is mated by black Rooks on d2 and b1.
A tactical lesson by Meister Mieses!
sac: 22...Bxc3