WilhelmThe2nd: I have transcribed this article from the British Chess Magazine February, 1904 pgs. 52-53 converting the original descriptive notation into algebraic.:A PROBABLE RUSSIAN CHESS CAUSE CÉLÈBRE.
JUDGING from reports which have reached us recently from Russian sources, the last National Tournament contested at Kieff, seems likely to provide work for Russian lawyers. The raison d'etre is the following game, which we extract with M. Tchigorin's notes from Novoe Vremya. It appears that a prize of 100 roubles was offered by M. M. N. Bostansholgo, of Moscow, to the winner of the most brilliant Ruy Lopez won by White, and it is stated that M. M. V. R. Yurevitch and Lebedieff concocted the appended game for the purpose of securing the prize.
Game No. 2,373
Played (?) in the 17th round of the Kieff Tourney.
Ruy Lopez
White: M. Yurevitch.
Black: M. Lebedieff
1.e4 e5
2.Nf3 Nc6
3.Bb5 f5
4.d4 exd4
5.e5 Bb4+
6.c3 dxc3
7.bxc3 Be7
….The opening of the coming “brilliant” game was obligingly shown to me some few days before it was “played”.
8.Qd5 Nh6
9.Bxh6 gxh6
10.g4 …..
Who would take it into his head to make such an absurd sacrifice of a P and then a N?
12. ….. fxg4
11.Nbd2 gxf3
12.Ne4 d6
......The uselessness of White's sacrifice of N becomes palpable if 12. ...Bg5. M. Lebedieff moved 12. ...d6 with the evident purpose of weakening his N's defence.Without this move it would have been impossible to carry out the "brilliant" combination mutually planned.
13.Rg1 Bg5
……It would not have "profited” M. Lebedieff to play 13...Bf5 and allow the continuation 14. Rg8+ (14 exd6 Bxe4)Rxg8 15. Qxg8+ Kd7 16. Nc5+ Kc8; because, you see, it would gave lead to the defeat of his “opponent”.
14.Nxg5 …..
M. Yurevitch had thoroughly weighed in his mind that if he won the game by the combination 14. h4 Bxh4 15. Rg7 Rf8 16. exd6 (threatening Qh5+, and also Bxc6+), he must lose all hope of the " brilliancy" prize. White could also win by playing 14 exd6; but, for the same reason, such a simple victory as this did not enter into the calculations of the not-friendly friends.
14. …. hxg5
15.0-0-0 a6
........And now by the move 15.. Bf5, Black could have won the game. If 16. exd6 (or 16 Re1 Kf8) then …Qf6 and, by compelling White to defend himself from mate (…Qxc3); Black would gain the time necessary to enable him to defend himself from any form of attack whatever. If, for example, 17. Bxc6+ bxc6 18. Qxc6+ Kf7 19. Qxc7+ Kg6 20. d7 and Black could sacrifice a Rook playing 20. …Rhc8.
16.exd6 Qxd6
……….I see no reason why Black should not have taken the B or the P with P. Even by playing 16…Qf6 17. d7+ Bxd7 18. Qxd7+ Kf8 Black would not have lost.
17. Rge1+ …..
This is the way the game was continued according to M. Lebedieff's note of it. I made a copy of M. Yurevitch's score sheet which was given in to the members of the Committee immediately on the conclusion of the game. Either I copied it erroneouslv, or M. Yurevitch wrongly put down the following combination 17. Qxg5 Qa3+ 18. Kb1 Qxc3; however, it does not alter the essentials of the game.
17. …. Kf8
18.Qxg5 Qa3+
19.Kb1 Qxc3
20.Rd8+
Overlooking, in the pursuit of brilliancy, the mate in four, beginning Qf4+.
20. … Kf7
If 20...Nxd8; then 21. Qe7+ and 22. Rg1+. The only sound sacrifice in the whole course of the game.
21.Qf4+ Qf6
22.Bc4+ Kg6
23.Rg1+ Kh5
24.Bf7+ Resigns.
[Continued....]
