Most of this game was a close struggle focused on Maroczy's isolated Queen's Pawn. Initially, the game presented the age-old question of whether such a pawn in the Queen's Gambit is a strength or a weakness. As a result of a few second-best moves by Maroczy (13. Nd3,14. BxN, and 16. Be3). Blackburne gradually got the edge. But Maroczy played carefully thereafter and seemed able to hold the game until the key moment when he played 34. Be3.

At first glance, it appears that Blackburne could simply have won a pawn with 34...RxR 35. gxR and then 35...Rxf3.

According to the Tournament Book, however, Blackburne didn't dare take the offered pawn, since---it was claimed---Maroczy would then have won the exchange with 36. Nf4 followed by 37. Kg2. Since Blackburne didn't fall into this "trap," the game was drawn.

But this is all wrong. if 36. Nf4, Blackburne would have been just fine after 36...e5!! He would have been up a pawn with a likely win. Somehow, both players missed this, and so did Hoffer in preparing the Tournament Book.

I want add my own little variation (without engine).

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But Maroczy's 34. Be3 was a mistake losing a pawn (he should have played 34. Rdd3). After:

34. Be3? RxR
35. gxR

Blackburne should simply have played 35...Rxf3 after which he would have been up a pawn with a likely win:

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Contrary to what Hoffer says in the Tournament Book, 36. Nf4 does not win the exchange in light of 36...e5.

Fanacas suggests 37. Nxd5(I assume his 37. Nxe5 is a typo) which is surely best, but after 37. Bxd4 38. Kg2 Rf8 Blackburne would be up a pawn with excellent winning chances:

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In this same line, Straclonoor's 37. dxe5 BxB 38. fxB Rxe3 39. Rxd5 Rxe5 leads to the following position with Blackburne up a pawn with a likely win:

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