estrick: Notes from "Tarrasch's Best Games of Chess" annotated by ReinfeldAlso, known as the 'Schlecter-Rubinstein Variation of the Tarrasch Defense, this game is the only example of it being played against Tarrasch.
White's 10th move is "a serious inexactitude." If Nbd2 was going to be played, it should have been on the 9th move.
By playing it on the 10th move, Tarrasch is able to force White to trade his bishop for knight on f6.
Giving Tarrasch the two bishops is a very dangerous proposition, as this game richly demonstrates.
Curiously, White cannot challenge Black for control of the c-file with 15. Rac1, which would be met with 15 ...g5. If White then attempted to blockade the d-pawn with 16. Nbd4, he would lose a piece; 16. ... Nxd4; 17. Nxd4 (or 17. Rxc8 Nxf3+) Rxc1 etc.
After 17. ...Rc4!, Black has a "positionally decisive" advantage. White cannot play 18. Nxe6 or Nb3 and expose his f2 square. If he plays 18. e3 he will end up losing it, and Black will have a passed pawn in the center and a centralized queen.
With 19. ...g4, Tarrasch carries out an astonishing demolition of White's position. White's kingside is left in tatters, while Black's IQP rolls down the center, and the two bishops both defend key squares on the back rank, and crisscross threats all over White's side of the board.
Meanwhile, Black's rooks get in the action, while White's remain totally out of it. Tarrasch doesn't mind sacrificing one of the rooks on e4 in order to complete the assault on f2 with the other rook.
Simply marvelous!