Pawn and Two: Duras finished 2nd to Mieses at Vienna 1907. He was the only undefeated competitor in the tournament. However, in the first round, he had a very fortunate result in his game with Prokes.At move 33, White was better. Fritz indicates White's best way to maintain the advantage was: (.79) (19 ply) 33.Rac1 Nc6 34.b5 Nb4 35.Rxc8 Rxc8 36.Rxc8 Kxc8 37.bxa6 bxa6.
Instead, after 33.Bc2 Nd8 34.Ba4+ Ndc6, the game was about equal: (.11) (22 ply) 35.b5 Nxb5 36.Bxb5 axb5 37.Rxb5 Kc7 38.Rc5 Ra8 39.Ra3.
White slipped again at move 35: (-.53) (21 ply) 35.Bf2 b5 36.Bd1 Nxb4 37.Rc3 Nac6.
A further error, 40.Rc5? (40.Be2 was best), put White at serious risk of loss. Notes taken from the Wiener & Deutsche Schachzeitung stated: <The sacrifice of the pawn, although in the nature of a trap, seems an oversight nevertheless.>
After 40..f4+ 41.Kd2, Black should have played 41...Ne7: (-1.00) (23 ply) 42.Rxc8 Rxc8 43.g4 Nec6 44.Bf2 g5; or (-1.10) (23 ply) 42.Rc3 Rxc3 43.bxc3 Nbc6 44.Bc2 Na5 45.Ke2 Nc4, with winning chances for Black.
Unfortunately for Prokes, he took the proffered Pawn, and after 41...Nxd4? 42.Rxc8 Rxc8 43.Bf2, he then made a clearly fatal error with 43...Nbc2?.
Black had chances of survival if he had played: (.37) (22 ply) 43...Nbc6 44.Kc3 Kb7 45.Bxd4 Nxe5+ 46.Kb3 Nc4 47.Bc3 e5, but after 43...Nbc2?, the Knight and the game was clearly lost. Black's 44...Ne3 only hastened his defeat.
