KEG: Jacob and Bardeleben were tied for last place at Munich 1900, both with scores of 0-4. It appeared for a short while as if Bardeleben was getting the better of the game until he blundered away his Queen on move 15.1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nf6
Proposing they play a Petroff's Defense.
3. Nc3
Jacob prefers the equality of a Four Knights Game, perhaps willing to play for a draw.
3... Nc6
Unlike Pillsbury, who went in for a Three Knights Game in this round with 3...Bb4 to avoid the drawish Four Knights opening, Bardeleben was content to play the text, which yields little advantage to White but tends toward symmetrical positions.
4. Bb5 Bb4
5. 0-0 0-0
6. d3 d6
7. BxN
Very timid. 7. Bg5 is normal and probably best. 7. Bd2 and 7. h3 are other timid choices that seem better than the text.
7... bcB
8. Ne2
Another wimpy move that bespeaks a lack of ambition.
8... Nh5?!
Needlessly playing for complications. 8...Qe7 and 8...Bg4 and 8...Re8 and 8...Ba5 were all solid and at least theoretically better moves. But Bardeleben apparently hoped to unsettle his less experienced opponent.
9. c3
9. d4 immediately was clearly best.
9... Bc5
10. d4 exd4
10...Bb6 was best.
11. Nfxd4?
Very weak. 11. cxd4 was simplest and best.
11... Qh4
The Tournament Book gives this move a "?", but it is not all that bad. Best for Black here are probably either 11...Bd7 or 11...Re8.
12. Qd3
Seemingly hell-bent on messing up his positioning. 12. Re1 was one of a number of better choices.
12... Re8
13. f3
Trading pawns by 13. Nxc6 Bd7 14. Ncd4 Qxe4 was better.
13... a5
Missing the far better 13...d5.
14. Be3
I prefer 14. g3.
14... Ba6?
Very bad. Why not 14...d5 which would have given Bardeleben much the better game.
15. Qd2
The position was now:
15... d5??
He could have avoided this mess with 15...h6. Alternatively, Bardeleben could have followed the advice of Autoreparaturwerkbau on this site ("Run, queen, run!") and played 15...Qf6.
16. Bg5
16... Rxe4
17. BxQ
Kibitzing
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