Jan-07-25
 | | KEG: Going into this penultimate round of the tournament, all of the top prizes were up for grabs, the leaders being: Maroczy -- 13.25
Pillsbury -- 12.50
Teichmann -- 12.25
Janowski -- 12.00
Tarrasch -- 11.50
Tchigorin -- 11.50 ***
Marshall -- 11.00
Wolf -- 10.50
Schlechter -- 10.50
Of the above, only Tchigorin had not yet had a bye round (and thus had only one game remaining). The others on the above list still had two games to play. All of these competitors had at least one game against one of the other leaders: Maroczy was scheduled to play Tarrasch in the final round (after an easier game against von Popiel) Pillsbury was to play Marshall in the final round (after playing last-place Mortimer in Round 20) Teichmann was to play Tarrash and then Janowski. Janowski would play Marshall and then Teichmann
Tarrasch was to play Teichmann and then Maroczy
Marshall had Janowski and then Pillsbury on his dance card. Wolf was to play Schlechter and then Albin
Schlechter was to play Wolf and then last-place Mortimer. As is obvious, the top places in this event would be decided in the final two rounds. In the game at hand, Janowski was a clear favorite at this stage of career over Marshall. He had defeated Marshall 3 games to one in a match, and had two wins and a draw in their other three games preceding this tournament. Marshall would later become a significantly stronger player than Janowski. But this game was played in 1902. Janowski had finished first at Monte Carlo 1901, and after this event was to take first over a very strong field at Hanover 1902. In the instant game, Janowski played well within himself, allowing himself no flights of fancy and relying on his ability (in 1902) to outplay the often impetuous Marshall. His plan was to exploit Marshall's over-anxiousness, and this worked well for him. Janowski then went on to defeat Teichmann and this finish in third place, just behind Maroczy and Pillsbury. On to the game:
1. d4 d5
2. Nf3 c5
Marshall's desire to create complications was clear from the start: 
click for larger view3. e3
On might have expected 3. c4 from Janowski here, but--for once--Janowski was prepared to give his opponent a chance to over-reach. 3... Nc6
4. a3
click for larger viewThis move, so far as I am aware. was a novelty at the time. The move was, however, very much in Janowski's style given his penchant to play a6 on the Black side of the Queen's Gambit. 4... Bg4?!
Marshall found himself on virgin soil already. 4...c4 and 4...cxd4 seem most prudent. But Marshall was already itching for a fight. 5. Be2
Objectively best was 5. dxc5. But Janowski seemed to be happy to let Marshall flounder in this already novel opening while awaiting the opportunity to play b4: 
click for larger viewAn unbalanced position with all sorts of chances for both sides. |
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Jan-08-25
| | KEG: Post II
5... e6
6. dxc5 Bxc5
7. b4
7. c4 was another good choice, but the text was part of Janowski's trade-mark as Black against the QGD (i.e., a6 and then b5), so it was nearly inevitable he would play it here. This left:
click for larger view7... Bd3
Marshall was keen on a King-side attack and so placed his Bishop here rather than the more prudent 7...Be7 or 7...BxN followed by 8...Be7. 8. Bb2
Rather than this committal posting of the Bishop Janowski might have played 8. Nbd2 and seen how play developed. 8... Nf6
A normal developing move. But in light of Janowski's last move, Marshall might have been better advised to play 8...BxN and then 9...Be5. But there was obviously nothing terribly wrong with the text. 9. Nbd2 Rc8
click for larger view10. c4
Still over-anxious. 10. 0-0 or 10. Rc1 were good options. It appears, however, that Janowski wanted to create complications and leas Marshall astray. As the game went, this plan worked well and Marshall soon dug a hole for himself. 10... 0-0
Once again, Marshall would have been fine with 10...BxN and then 11...Be5. But Marshall wanted to use his dark-square Bishop to attack rather than trade it off to achieve equality. 11. Qb3
And yet again, Janowski passed up the obvious plan of 0-0 and Rc1. The text left the position as follows: 
click for larger view11... Bb8
Still dreaming of a King-side attack rather than securing equality with 11...BxN and 12...Be5 12. 0-0
12. Rc1 or 12. Rd1 seem indicated. But Janowski no doubt saw Marshall's fixation and decided to give him the opportunity to mess up. 12... Ne4
13. Rfd1 NxN
14. RxN
click for larger view14... Qc7?
Still intent on a King-side attack rather than playing for equalizing exchanges (i.e., 14...BxN 15. BxB dxc4 16. QxQ cxQ 17. RxR RxR with equality once the Black pawn on b3 inevitably falls. From this point on Marshall was in trouble for the rest of the game. 15. cxd5 exd5
Of course not 15...BxN? 16. d6! Qd7 17. BxB and White with his monster pawn on d6 should win easily. 16. g3
click for larger viewWith his isolated d-pawn, Black has gotten the worst of the opening, but he was far from lost at this point. But, as I will discuss in my next post, from here Marshall panicked and, although given some opportunities to get back in the game by Janowski, never truly recovered. |
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Jan-08-25
| | KEG: Post III
16... Be6
Better was 16...Ne7. Alternatively, Marshall could have let the d-pawn fall and then seek counter-play with 16...Qe7 17. Rxd5 Be6 18. Qc3 f6 (with apologies to those who say "never play f6") 19. Rdd1 Na5. 17. Ng5
click for larger view17... Qe7
Better chances were offered by 17...Ne5 although Black would still be behind the 8-ball. 18. NxB
18. f4 looks very strong, but Janowski loved Bishops and predictably jumped at the chance to obtain the 2-Bishops even at the expense of allowing Marshall to support his hitherto isolated d-pawn. 18... fxN
click for larger view19. f4
19. e4 to create problems for the center Black pawns (while avoiding a backward e-pawn for himself) appears indicated. But Janowski apparently (correctly) thought that the text would flummox Marshall. 19... Bc7
Marshall in this game was never able to decide what to do with this Bishop. 20. Rf1
Still avoiding the obvious 20. e4.
20... Bb6
21. Kg2
Getting off the awkward diagonal:
click for larger view21... Qe7
21...Kh8 or 21...Rcd8 were much better.
22. Bf3
Yet again declining to play e4 and instead apparently waiting for Marshall to self-destruct. 22... Rcd8
23. Rfd1 Qg6
24. Qd3
Offering a Queen trade.
click for larger view24... QxQ
Given the holes in his position, Marshall should have avoided this swap. 25. RxQ
click for larger viewWhite is obviously much better in this endgame, having the two Bishops and Black having vulnerable center pawns. Whether this all adds up to a theoretical win was never put to the test here since Marshall--as his clock ticked closer to the move-30 time control--now collapsed as I will discuss in my next post on this game. |
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Jan-09-25
| | KEG: Post IV
25... Ne7
This hardly helped matters for Marshall, but--in fairness--it is hard to devise a good plan for him. 26. e4!
By contrast, Janowski's position nearly plays itself. 26... dxe4?
This only helped Janowski's scheme. Marshall could do no more than wait and see with something like 26...Kf7 or 26...Rfe8. But Marshall was no Tigran Petrosian, and this hardly suited his hyper-aggressive style at this stage of Marshall's career. 26. Bxe4 RxR
27. RxR
click for larger viewMarshall now had to decide how to address his obvious weaknesses (his isolated e-pawn and the danger that Janowski's Rook would penetrate). He probably had nothing better than sacrificing a pawn with 27...Nd5. But, as we all know, Marshall always preferred to attack, and so: 27... Rc8?!
28. Rd7
Yep. Marshall must surely have seen this coming. His position looks pretty much lost to me now: 
click for larger view28... Rc4?
This only made matters worse. He might have tried 28...Rd8 (giving up the b-pawn after 29. RxR+ BxR 30. Bxb7 and trying to hole the minor piece ending down a pawn) or 28...Rc7 (also giving up the b-pawn after the Rook trade) or maybe a desperate 28...Nd5. Once again, in fairness to Marshall, none of my notions would have been likely to save the game. 29. Kf3
I think it was Lasker who said that Janowski so enjoyed winning positions that he couldn't bear to part with them. The text doesn't really spoil anything, it just prolongs the game. Obviously White can go to town here with 29. RxN RxB 30. Rxg7+. Among other things, this would avoid ending up with an ending with Bishops of opposite colors. After 29. Kf3, the position was:
click for larger view30... Kf8?
Worse than useless, but this was the last move before the time control and perhaps Marshall was suffering from time pressure. 31. Bxg7+?
Zooks! Janowski wins at least a pawn but now gets a Bishops of opposite colors ending. This should still win, but I have no idea what Janowski was thinking here. 31. Be5 or 31. Rxb7 both seem to win easily. 31... KxB
32. RxN+ Kf6
33. Rxh7 Rc3+
34. Kg4 Rxa3
click for larger view35. h4
This also does not blow the win, but much simpler were 35. Rh6+ followed by 36. Bxb7 or 35. Bxb7 immediately or even 35. Kh5. 35... Rb3?!
The likely only slim chance Marshall still had resided in 35...Bf2. 36. h5
click for larger view36... Rxb4
In the vain hope that he could make something of his two connected passed pawns on the Queen-side. But 36...Bf2 remained the best (albeit slim) hope. 37. Kf3 Rb3+
38. Kg2
click for larger viewThings still looked gruesome for Marshall, but--as will be seen--Marshall was prepared to fight this game out to the bitter end, and Janowski seemed willing to prolong the game. Stay tuned. |
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Jan-10-25
| | KEG: Post V
38... Re3
A feeble attempt by Marshall to try to derail Janowski's progress by preventing the White King from defending the White Bishop. As Janowski's reply shows, Marshall's move did nothing to detain the White march to victory. 39. Bg6! e5
40. Rf7+
40. Rxb7? exf4 41. gxf4 Re7 would afford Marshall serious drawing prospects. 40... Ke6
41. f5+
Again well played by Janowski:
click for larger view41... Kd6
41...Kd5 was no better.
42. h6
click for larger viewThe game looks quite over at this point, but it appears that Janowski was having too much fun torturing Marshall here to issue the coup de grace. 42... Re2+
42...Rc3 was arguably marginally better.
43. Kh3 Bg1
click for larger viewThe threat of a Rook skewer on h2 should not seriously have delayed the inevitable end. 44. h7 would have left Marshall not reason to continue. But: 44. Bh5
This was plenty good enough to win, but it was far slower than 44. h7 (as I suspect Janowski knew full well). 44... Rc2
Planning to bring his Rook to h8 and set up some sort of barricade. 45. h7
Now that Marshall was primed to get his Rook to Black's first rank, a faster method for White was 45. Rf6+ and then if 45...Ke7 46. Re6 and then 47. h7; and if instead 45...Kd7 46. Rf8. But, as with his previous move, Janowsku was in no hurry whatsoever. 45... Rc8
Obviously forced.
46. Rg7
Yet again choosing the slow route. Either 46. g4 or 46. f6 (followed by 47. Rxb7) would have shortened proceedings. Since the move-45 time control had been passed, it is hard to believe Janowski was unaware of any of this. 46... Rh8
Again obviously forced. Marshall now had achieved the blockade he had sought: 
click for larger viewThe obvious winning procedure for White now is to push the g-pawn. But, instead of playing 47. g4, Janowski continued to take his sweet time: 47. Bg6 e4
A frantic effort to drum up some sort of counter-play. Once again, there was a clear path to victory for White: 47. Kg4. And once again, Janowski selected the slowest (but still clear) road to a win: 48. Rxb7 Bd4
Marshall was trying everything. How much longer could this spectacle continue? 
click for larger view |
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Jan-10-25
| | KEG: Post VI
According to the Tournament Book, the blocked status of Marshall's Rook meant that Janowski was "practically a Rook ahead." Since Marshall did manage to shuffle his Rook about for a few moves, the Tournament Book's claim was a bit of an overstatement. That said, Marshall by this point was nearly helpless, which meant that Janowski could continue to toy with him for a while: 49. Bh5
Another holding pattern move by Janowski rather than seeking a quick kill with 49. Rb4. Even 49. Kg4 would have been faster than the text. Janowski, however, was in no hurry to conclude this easily won ending. 49... e3
Might as well. This left:
click for larger viewJanowski now had only to play 50. Bd1 and 51. Kg2 [or the same moves in reverse order] to have a clear path to winning. But here again he chose a detour: 50. Be2
Needlessly blocking his King's ability to e2 and thus end any "threats" from Marshall's e-pawn. But, yet again, Janowski's dawdling did not blow the win. 50... Rc8
A waste of time which gave Janowski the chance to attack with his next move: 51. Kg4 a5
click for larger view52. Kf3
It is hard to fathom why Janowski didn't go for the jugular with 52. Kg5 (except that he wanted to prolong the game). 52... Re8?
More fuzzy play by Marshall. 52...a4 (or maybe 52...Ke5) might have offered a glimmer of hope. 53. g4!
Back on track:
click for larger view53... a4
54. Rb4
More cat-and-mouse from Janowski in a clearly winning position. 54. g5! would have been murder. On the positive side, he now wins a pawn: 54... Bc5
55. Rxa4 Rh8
click for larger view56. Ra6+
Now Janowski can get his Rook to h6 and save the pawn. But the quicker kill was 56. g5 [the move Janowski for some reason never chose to play in this ending], i.e., 56. g5! Rxh7 57. g6 Rg7 58. Kf4 Bb 59 Ra6 Kc5 60. RxB [a cute winning resource] KxR 61. Kg6 after which White's King side pawns overwhelm Black]. 56.... Kd5
57. Rh6 Bf8
58. Rh5 Ke5
click for larger viewAnd so...on they played. |
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Jan-10-25
| | KEG: Post VII
59. Bc4
To complete the demonstration of Marshall
s helplessness, Janowski decides to get his Bishop to g8 and smother the Black Rook. Of course, Janowski could have equally well won with the simple 59. Kxe3. 59... Bg7
60. Bg8
The Black Rook is now effectively dead:
click for larger view60... e2
Accomplishing God knows what.
61. Rh1
Allowing the final Black pawn to survive for another move. I have no explanation for why Marshall chose to continue. The situation was of course hopeless. 61... Kf6
62. Kxe2 Kg5
63. Kf3
click for larger viewAccording to the Tournament Book, Marshall--though now three pawns down and with his Rook out of play--struggled on for another nine moves that (mercifully) have not been preserved before finally resigning. 1-0 |
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Kibitzing
