Of his twentieth round encounter with Chigorin at Monte Carlo, Napier wrote in "Amenities" that "at Monte Carlo in 1902 my opponent on the last day was Chigorin. I decided to celebrate with a gambit, and so gave him to understand the night before. In the morning I steered into the Evans, confident that he would not expect an opening that had scarcely been out of the stable since its crippling in the St. Petersburg event of 1896. He used the old defense. After the game he asked what new play I had in mind for Lasker's Defense, and when I replied 'None,' he said good-naturedly that I had a talent--for poker! After that agreeable little memento it was a bit comforting to receive the brilliancy prize for the game."

One possible line given by Rybka is 24... Bxg1 25. Rxg1 Qb6 26. Nd4 Re8 27. Qg4 Rfe7 28. Qg3 Qc5 29. Bf5 Nf8 30. Ne6 Nxe6 31. Bxe6+ Kh8 32. Bxf6

After 26...Re8? 27.Qh5 Qc5, Fritz indicated the game is equal.

After 26...Re8? 27.Qg4?, Fritz showed that Black again has some advantage with: 27...Qc5 28.Qg3 b5 29.Be6 b4 30.Bxf7+ Kxf7 31.Ne3 Rxe6 32.dxe6+ Kf8.

Finally, Fritz indicated the game is equal, in your line after: 29...Qa3 30.Nb5 Qc5. The move 29...Nf8?? leads to a quick loss for Black.

L. Hoffer in "The Field" stated regarding 24...Ne5: <The attack remaining the same, rook or no rook, Black should have taken the rook.>

Pillsbury stated: <If 24...Bxg1 25.Rxg1 Ne5 26.Nd4, and White will regain at least the Exchange. It will be noticed that the Black Knight at a5 is the cause of his difficultly. If for Black 25...b5 26.Rxg6 hxg6 27.Qxg6 Re8 28.Nf4 with a winning attack.>

Black's move 27...g5?, considerably shortened Black's resistence.

L. Hoffer commented regarding 27...g5: <A desperate remedy, hardly improving matters.>

Pillsbury stated: <27...Kh8 is probably better, but White's attack is tremendous.>

Fritz agrees that 27...Kh8 was a better move, and also agrees that White's attack was tremendous. Even if Black had played 27...Kh8, Fritz indicated White's position was winning.

After 27...Kh8 28.Rag1 b5 29.Bf5, Fritz found White to be winning after: 29...g5 30.Qg3 Nb7 31.f4 gxf4 32.Qxf4 Nc5 33.Be6, or 29...Nb7 30.Qh4 g5 31.Qh5 b4 32.Bxb4 Qb6 33.f4 Qxb4 34.Qh6, or 29...Nb7 30.Qh4 g5 31.Qh5 Nc5 32.f4 b4 33.Bd4 Ncd3 34.fxe5 Nf4 35.Qh6 fxe5 36.Rxg5.

Improvements may be found for Black, but I believe by move 27, White's attack is decisive.

Pillsbury stated after 10...Ne7: <Probably preferable was 10...Nxc4 11.Qa4+ c6 12.Qxc4 Ne7. As played, it will be seen that the knight is left completely out of it later on.>

L. Hoffer in "The Field" noted that the game through 14...Bg4, followed a known book line. After 14...Bg4, Hoffer stated: <All book so far, and also the text move, but the latter bad book, as Chigorin ought to know, the correct move being 14...Rb8, followed by the advance of the b-pawn. If Black can make no diversion on the queen's side - his strength - the attack on his king's position must become too powerful.>

Fritz agrees with Pillsbury that 10...Nxc4 11.Qa4+ c6 12.Qxc4 Ne7 is a preferable line for Black. Fritz indicates Black has a small advantage in this line, while after 10...Ne7 11.Bd3 0-0 12.h3, Fritz rates the position as equal.

Fritz does not agree with Hoffer's evaluation of 14...Rb8 as opposed to 14...Bg4. Fritz finds both moves playable, but indicated 14...Bg4 is Black's best move, with more advantage for Black than after 14...Rb8.

To achieve this, he has driven his opponent's king into the perils of a (nearly) stalemated monarch, and nailed down this advantage by doubling rooks on the g-file — a permanent condition, thanks to the material imbalance.

Now, some advantages are temporary: If you don't find exactly the right idea (sometimes a profoundly artistic one), it will evaporate and leave you with nothing. But in this game we see a non-volatile strategic advantage, in the form of pressure and persistent initiative, and White need only keep making threats until he makes one that Black can't stop, and then the strategic advantage is converted into a tactical one.

So, even though the winning combination isn't as dramatic as some, I think the attacking technique in this game is pragmatically instructive in a way that some of the more spectacular tactical finishes are not.

Napier was often trouble for the top players as he was to prove dramatically at Hanover 1902 where he scored 4.5 (3 wins, one loss, and 3 draws) in his seven games against the other prize winners. Had he not lost three games against the also-rans, he might have done even better than his tie for fifth place. In this tournament, his score was -1 going into Round 20. As is stated here by <Bartleby>, he rashly told Tchigorin the night before this game that he was going to play a gambit as White against the mighty Russian. He then proceeded to play the Evans Gambit, an opening well-known by Tchigorin who had frequently played it as White.

The game itself was a thrilling affair, with Napier remaining a pawn behind for most of the encounter. At times, the position became so complex that it becomes useless to consult Stockfish or Fritz which often come to diametrically opposed evaluations and and sometimes change their own minds from move to move. While their were mistakes, one can only applaud the show (errors and all) that they put on for us.

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bc4 Bc5
4. b4

What courage to play the Evans Gambit against Tchigorin!

4... Bxb4

Tchigorin was not about to spoil the show by declining the gambit.

5. c3 Ba5
6. d4 exd4
7. 0-0

The most usual move here. 7. Qb3 is arguably better. The text left:

click for larger view

7... d6

Having handled the Evans Gambit from the other side of the board, Tchigorin was not keen to go in for 7...dxc3. 7...Nf6 is probably best and the only legitimate way for Black to secure an edge. But Tchigorin wanted to prevent e5 by White.

8. cxd4

The dust had now at least partially settled, and White had sacrificed only one pawn.

8... Bb6

This is again the normal move and a line Tchigorin undoubtedly knew well. But once again, Nf6 (though rarely played here) seems best for Black.

9. Bb2

9. d5 is most usual here (though the game later transposes into "normal" lines in the Evans). But 9. Nc3 immediately looks simplest and best.

9... Na5

Yet again Tchigorin declined to play Nf6. He had seemingly decided to develop this steed to e7.

click for larger view

10. Nc3

It was suggested on this site that the score here is in error with White's 10 and 11th moves being mistakenly inverted since Black could now play 10...NxB. Indeed, 10...NxB looks best, but it would not have won a piece. Play would likely have then proceeded 11. Qa4+ c6 12. QxB Ne7 leaving Black with the superior chances as compared with how the actual game now proceeded.

10... Ne7
11. Bd3 0-0
12. d5 Ng6

Still following "normal" lines. 12...c5, though rarely played, is a good alternative.

13. Ne2

Aiming to use this Knight in a King-side attack. Though this yet again is "normal," 13. Na4 [unleashing the b2 Bishop and preparing to trade off Black's Bishop at b6 looks better. Alternatively, the prophylactic 13. h3 was a decent try.

13... c5

Another "standard" move at the time though (with Napier having failed to play 13. h3), 13...Bg4 was probably correct. The position was now:

click for larger view

14. Qd2

And yet again the "standard" move was played here. 14. Bc3 or 14. Ng3 are both probably more promising, Napier--like Tchigorin--was following the "book" line of the time.

14... Bg4

Hoffer in his notes on this game castigated Tchigorin for not recognizing that 14...Rb8 was far better than the text. But <Pawn and Two> has correctly taken Hoffer to task for his comment and noted that the text was in fact the superior choice and gave Black a greater edge than he would have had with Hoffer's 14...Rb8. Indeed, Tchigorin probably knew as much about the Evans Gambit as anyone who has ever walked the face of the earth so I trust his judgment here. Notably, both Stockfish and Fritz side with Tchigorin and <Pawn and Two> against Hoffer on this issue.

The position after 14...Bg4 was:

click for larger view

Tchigorin still has the gambit pawn in hand but Napier is poised to initiate a King-side storm. Who is better? Not easy to judge. Fritz thinks Black is much better. Stockfish thinks White is much better.

Fascinating game!

15. Ng3

One of a plethora of ways to proceed. The most direct route is 15. Kh1 to get a Rook on the g-file. 15. Qc3 leads to an immediate crisis for Black. And the text brings the e2 Knight into the attacking party. I would probably have played 15. Kh1 but am not going to quibble with Napier's selection.

15... BxN

"The sequel to the previous inferior move, and this one is no better since he opens the g-file for White's attack." (Hoffer)

While I certainly see Hoffer's point, I disagree. Cutting down White's forces seems like a sound choice by Tchigorin.

16. gxB

click for larger view

16... Nh4?

This is where Tchigorin began to go astray (and not on the prior two moves as claimed by Hoffer). Black seems to be in fine shape after 16...Ne5. Stockfish, however disagrees and seems to think White would still have a decided advantage (1.32). Once again, Fritz disagrees with Stockfish. In any case, the text can't be right since Black immediately retreats the Knight to g6 on his next turn.

17. Qf4

Leading the charge on the King-side. White could also (in my view at least) have played 17. Kh1 immediately.

17... Ng6

This left:

click for larger view

18. Qf5?

This could have created problems for Napier had Tchigorin exploited his chances. Napier had to retreat his Queen here to d2 or c1.

18... Rc8

A surprisingly lame choice by Tchigorin. 18...Qh4 or 18...c4 seem the best way for Black to try to seize the initiative.

19. Bc3

click for larger view

19... Rc7

Perhaps 19...Qh4 or 19...c4 would have been a small improvement. The real collapse of Tchigorin in this game, however, was yet to come.

20. Kh1

Napier could equally well have played f4 immediately.

20... f6

When I saw this move I thought of Ben Feingold's adage: "Never play f6." The move is not awful in this case and does little to explain Tchigorin's loss in this game. But 20...Qh4 was probably an improvement.

21. Rg1

click for larger view

21... Rcf7

The beginning of the self-suffocation of Tchigorin's position. 21...Re7 was better. 21...c4 or perhaps 21...Qe8 were other good possibilities. But, at the risk of repetition, the crisis that cost Tchigorin this game still lay ahead.

22. Bf1!

"A pretty maneuver to bring the inactive Bishop into play" -- (Hoffer)

While I fully agree with Hoffer, this move did tempt Napier into his mis-step on his next turn.

22... c4

click for larger view

23. Bh3?

Missing the far stronger 23. Nh5 and giving Tchigorin a chance to create havoc.

23... Bxf2!

click for larger view

The moment of crisis had arrived! Napier had now sacrificed a second pawn. Did he need to save his g1 Rook?

24. Ne2!

Wow!

"A pretty combination. White can well afford to leave the Rook en prise, his Knight coming powerfully into play" -- (Hoffer)

Now Tchigorin was face with a difficult decision. Should he take the proffered Rook?

24... Ne5!?

A courageous decision that helped make the finale here the exciting event that soon ensued. Objectively, however, he should just have taken the Rook and avoided disaster.

Much ink has been spilled in analyzing the position after 24...BxR. I will summarize what I have gleaned from all this [especially from the excellent commentary on this game on this site by <Pawn and Two>: 24...BxR 25. RxB Qb6 [also playable are 25...Ne5 26. Qh5 (or 26. Nd4 b6) b6 27. Bf5 with chances for both sides) or 25...b5 26. Qh5 b4 27. Bxb4 Ne5] 26. Nd4 Nb3! [26...Re8 or 26...Qc5 as suggested by <Pawn and Two> are other decent options' 26...Nb3 is my suggested improvement in this fiendishly complex position] 27. axN (best) cxb3 (now Black has his own counter-play) 28. Bb2 a5 29. RxN! (almost forced here) hxR 30. Qxg6 leaving Black with two Rooks and two pawns for White's three minor pieces. Play might then continue: 30...Qb4 31. Be6 Qe1+ 32. Kg2 with a likely perpetual check.

Wow!

But now let's get back to the actual game after Tchigorin's 24...Ne5:

click for larger view

25. Rg2 Be3

If instead 25...g6 26. Qh5 Be3 27. Be6 Kh8 28. Qh3 Nd3 (if 28...Rg7 29. f4 is too strong) 29. BxR RxB (forced) 30. Rf1 Kg8 31. f4 and White should win.

After Tchigorin's 25...Be3 the position was:

click for larger view

26. Nf4?

After 26. Qh5 Kh8 27. Be6 Re7 28. f4! White has excellent winning chances. Napier's actual (weaker) move left:

click for larger view

This position, in which the game was probably still in balance, was where Tchigorin likely lost the game. [In fairness, the players were fast approaching the move 30 time control at a time when there were no increments].

26... BxN?

Black can probably hold here with either 26...g6 or 26...Qe8.

27. QxB

click for larger view

27... g5?

"A desperate remedy, hardly improving matters"--(Hoffer)

Better chances, but not saving the game, were offered by:

(A) 27...Kh8 28. Rag1 b5 29. Bf5 b4
[if instead, as per the analysis of <Pawn and Two> 29...g5 30. Qg3 (30. Qe3 probably also wins) Nb7 31. f4 gxf4 32. Qxf4 Nc5 33. Be6 and White should win; of if 29...Nb7 (again cribbing the work of <Pawn and Two> 30. Qh4! g5 31. Qh5 and wins]

30. Bxb4 Nb7 (or 30...Nd3 31. Qg3 Nb7 32. Bd2! Qe7 33. Qh4 g5 34. Qh6 and White's attack must prevail) 31. Qh4 g5 32. Qh5 Nc5 33. BxN dxB 34. h4 g4 35. f4 Nf3 36. Rc1 and White should win

or

(B) 27...b5 28. Bf5 (28. Rag1 also probably wins) Kh8 29. Rag1 with a powerful and likely winning attack.

After Tchigorin's actual 27...g5 the position was:

click for larger view

From this point, Napier romped to victory:

28. Be6 Kh8

The only hope.

29. Qd2

29. Qf5 also wins, but Napier's idea is even stronger. It leaves Black confronted with unanswerable threats on both sides of the board:

click for larger view

29... b6?

The only plausible saving move was 29...Nxf3, but that too should fall to 30. Nxa5 (now both Queens come off the board) NxQ 31. BxQ Rg7 32. Bxf6 RxB 33. RxN leaving Black with two pawns for the lost piece. The text is even worse for Black:

30. BxR RxB
31. f4

click for larger view

31... gxf4

Giving Napier what he wanted. But, in fairness to Tchigorin, even had he played the slightly "better" 31...Rg7 he would have had little or no chance to save the game.

32. Qf4

click for larger view

32... Nb7

Tchigorin seems to be resigned to defeat, otherwise he might have tried 32...Ng6 or 32...Qf8, not that either of these moves would have done much good.

33. Rag1

33. BxN dxB 34. Qg3 would have been murder, but the text was more than sufficient to win the game.

33... Nc5

33...Qf8 was the only chance to avoid running into a mating net, but Tchigorin probably thought there was nothing to lose by straining to find some counterplay.

34. BxN dxB
35. Qg4

click for larger view

With the monster White line-up of major pieces on the g-file, the only remaining issue was how long Black could avoid being mated.

35... h6

Anything else would have led to a quick check-matinging of the Black king.

36. Qh5

36. Qh4 would have been even quicker.

36... Qf8
37. Rg6 Kh7

37...Ne6 would only have delayed the inevitable.

38. Rxh6+

click for larger view

1-0

If 38...QxR White mates in two after 39. QxR+