| Dec-26-05 | | tayer: Nice game. Looks like a draw by move 85. 88. ... ♗b5 seems better |
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| Dec-26-05 | | aw1988: What is "Accelerated Move Order"? |
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| Nov-13-13 | | Sebastian88: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Sc3 c6
It's the 3... c6 move. |
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Jun-23-14
 | | Honza Cervenka: <tayer: Nice game. Looks like a draw by move 85. 88. ... Bb5 seems better> At that point black is already lost. 56...Qd3 was a decisive mistake. After loss of exchange black's ending was lost due to bad Bishop, though it took some time for white to find correct winning plan. 88...Bb5 can be followed by 89.Rb2 with simple and brutal threat Rxb5. |
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Nov-20-23
 | | KEG: A long tough game that effectively ended after Tchigorin's error on move 56. Tchigorin fought on for another 43 moves, but Teichmann--taking his time and avoiding the various tactical traps Tchigorin thereafter set for him--carefully nursed his winning edge to victory. Before this game, Tchigorin pretty much owned Teichmann, have won all four of their previous games. But Teichmann, who with this victory and his later win over Tarrasch, managed--despite a plethora of replays under the bizarre rules in effect at this tournament, finished strong and took 4th place, just a fraction (0.75) of a point behind third place Janowski and just a point and a half behind tournament winner Maroczy. Meanwhile, thanks in part to this loss, Tchigorin ended up in 8th place (out of 20). 1. d4 d5
2. c4 e6
3. Nc3 c6
4. Bf4
click for larger viewRarely played but sound. It does, however, allow Black to equalize immediately. Tchigorin, understandably unfamiliar with the move, missed this opportunity. 4... Nf6
Simplest and equalizing is 4...dxc4.
5. e3 Nbd7
6. Nf3 Bb4
7. Qb3 Qa5
click for larger view8. Bd3
As is so often the case in such QP opening positions, proved to be a waste of time. White would retain a small advantage with 8. Rc1 or 8. a3. 8... 0-0
Again missing the equalizing dxc4.
9. 0-0 dxc4
Finally!
10. Bxc4 Nd5
click for larger view11. Ne2
Hard to understand, since it gives Black the Bishop pair. 11. Bg3 or 11. NxN make more sense. Ironically, were Tchigorin playing White, I might comprehend what was going on, since he preferred Knights to Bishops. 11,,, NxB
12. NxN Nf6
12...Be7 was probably better.
13. Nd3 Bd6
14. Nde5 Qc7
click for larger view15. Qc2
Not a "mistake" perhaps, but why not just play 15. Rac1 immediately. 15... Nd5
15...b6 or 15...c5 were better.
16. Rac1 f6
17. Nd3
click for larger viewThus far a fairly lackluster game. White was somewhat better here. But now, as could be anticipated in a game in which Tchigorin was involved, the action heated up. |
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Nov-20-23
| | KEG: Post II
17... Qf7?!
Anyone else would likely have been concerned about the White Bishop on c4 aiming down the diagonal at the Black King and played either 17...Kh8 (to get the King off the potentially lethal diagonal); 17...Nb6 (targeting the White Bishop); or 17...Nb4 18. NxN BxN 19. e4 h8. But Tchigorin had other ideas, and--heedless of the danger in putting his Queen on the dreaded diagonal--prepared to launch his own King-side attack. Tchigorin came into this game with a 100% record against Teichmann, and was playing to win. 18. e4!
Nicely exploiting the chance Black gave him to pile up on the diagonal by driving away the Black d5 Knight. 18... Nb6
I bet Tchigorin closely considered the wild 18...Qh5?! [19. exN (simpler and safer is 19. Qd2, but--especially over then board--a piece is a piece) exd5 20. Bb3 g5 (going for the jugular). But, for once, Tchigorin took the conservative route. 19. Bb3 Kh8
20. a4
click for larger view20... Nd7?!
Daring Teichmann to play 21. e5. Safer and less cataclysmic were 20...a5 or 20...Qe7. 21. h3
Not calling Tchigorin's bluff. Having been battered by Tchigorin in the past, Teichmann's careful strategy is understandable, if disappointing. 21... Re8
Again playing with fire. We mortals would have tried 21...Qe7 or 21...a5. 22. a5 would now be very strong for White, but an intimidated Teichmann instead played: 22. Rfe1
Safe and retaining White's edge, but not venturing on the critical line. This left:
click for larger viewNow, surely, Tchigorin would play 22...a5. But... 22... Nf8?!
Still dreaming of a King-side attack and preparing the Knight to jojn the show. 23. e5
Finally!
23... Bc7
click for larger viewWith his risky play, Tchigorin had gotten himself into a dangerous position. It is hard to determine whether Teichmann had a theoretical win here. In any case, his continued tentative play allowed Tchigorin to battle his way back into the sort of double-edged position in which he generally thrived. Whatever the theoretical merits, from what followed it is clear that Tchigorin still expected to win this game at this point. |
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Nov-22-23
| | KEG: Post III
24. Re2?
Teichmann's desire to load up on the e-file is understandable, but for the plan to work he had to start by clearing the file beginning with 24. exf6. After the text, Tchigorin nicely flipped the switch on Teichnann's idea with: 24... f5!
Now, Teichmann had to do back to the drawing-board with a different way to apply pressure on the Black e6 pawn: 25. Nf4
Black could now get decent chances with 25...Bd8, but Tchigorin wanted more: 25... Bb6
26. Qc3
click for larger view26... a6
Giving Teichmann a chance to pounce on the Queen-side. Tchigorin should have nixed White's next move with 26...a5 or, alternatively, cleared the decks for counter-play with 26...B8. 27. a5!
Teichmann took immediate advantage.
27... Bd8
28. Ba2
Too slow. 28. Nd2 with an eye on getting the Knight into the game via either c4 of perhaps b3 (once the Bishop retreats in some variations). 28... Ng6
29. NxN+ QxN
click for larger view30. Kh2
A tentative nothing move by Teichmann before the move-30 time control. 30... Qh6
Ditto for Tchigorin.
31. Rg1
Teichmann at this point seems to have lost the thread of the game, in which he still maintained some (albeit small) advantage. 31... Be7
32. Ne1 Bd7
33. Nd3 Rad8
click for larger view34. f4?!
Teichmann now embarked on a misguided King-side advance instead of the indicated 34. b4. 34... Bc8?
Tchigorin could have ended his defensive stance with 34...c5!, a move I would have expected an in-form Tchigorin to make in hi sleep. 35. g4
Continuing with his bizarre King-side strategy.
35... Rf8
Tchigorin now had many ways to counter Teichmann's obvious plan; i.e., 35...fxg4 or 35...g5 or 35...g6 or even 35...Bh4. Instead, Tchigorin tempted fate yet again with the text: 
click for larger view |
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Nov-23-23
| | KEG: Post IV
36. g5!
Tchigorin surely knew this would be coming. Why he allowed it I cannot explain. My best guess is that--having always defeated Teichmann in the past--he wanted to keep the game sharp even if it left him for a somewhat inferior position. 36... Qh5
Seeking to attack. No temporizing for him with 36...Qg6. 37. Re3
A strange move by Teichmann. 37. Ree1 seems the easier way to deal with Tchigorin's "threat." 37... h6?!
Again courting trouble. 37...Qh4 looks best.
The text left:
click for larger view38. g6!
Very strong. Tchigorin had been playing sharp chess looking to break down Teichman and had been laboring with a somewhat inferior game before. After 38. g6, however, Black's position became critical. 38... Qh4
I'm not sure what's best here. Typically, Tchigorin chose the sharpest alternative. 39. Rf3
Beginning here, Teichmann might have tried to exploit Tchigorin's bad light square bishop and his venturing Queen with 39. b4. For some reason, Tchigorin declined to pursue such a line. The text seems nearly pointless. 39... Rfe8
Understandably seeking to make room to retreat the dark-square Bishop to f8. But perhaps 39...Qh5 was a better choice. If then 40. Nc5 (Teichmann's seeming intention), Black seized the edge with 40...Rxd4! 41. QxR QxR 42. Nxe6 BxN 43. BxB Rd8 after which Black would be for choice. 40. Nc5
Teichmann again shunned 40. b4.
40... Bf8
This had evidently been Tchigorin's intention all along. But here 40...Qx5 or perhaps better still 40...BxN were better. 41. Rg2?
Another seemingly pointless move. Perhaps Teichmann was in time trouble with the move-45 time control looming. 41. b4 (aoparently Teichmann's least favorite move here) or 41. Na4 were better. 41... BxN
Now Black had little to fear---or so it seemed:
42. dxB
click for larger viewDespite his horrific light-square Bishop (a sorry excuse for a Bishop indeed), Tchigorin probably had an entirely defensible position. But Tchigorin was still playing to win, so instead of solid moves such as 42...Kg8 or 42...Rd7, he played the more provocative: 42... Rd1
43. Bb3 Ra1?!
He had nothing better than retreating the Bishop. But--with Teichmann still having to make two more moves before the time control--Tchigorin decided to put him to the test with a move he must have known was doubtful. The position after 43...Ra1 was: 
click for larger view |
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Nov-23-23
| | KEG: Post V
44. Rg1?
Here Teichmann, obviously unsettled by Tchigorin's invading Rook, chickened out and sought relief by a trade of Rooks. Much stronger was 44. Rgf2. Play might the proceed 44...Qh5 45. Rd2 (prepared to abandon the g-pawn and focus on his own Rook invasion) Rc1 (best( 46. Qe3 Qxg6 47. Rg2 Qh5 (obviously forced) 48. Rfg3 with a dangerous initiative. 44... RxR
45. KxR
click for larger viewDespite Black's still feeble Bishop, he should be able to hold this game. For a while, a draw seemed likely. 45... Qh5
46. Rg3 Rd8
47. Kf2 Qh4
46. Qe3 Kg8
49. Kf1 Kf8
click for larger viewThe blocked postion should allow Black to survive even with his awfulc8 Bishop. 50. Rg2?
A careless move by Teichmann that could have led to problems for White. But the position objectively should still lead to a draw. 50... Ke8?
The way for Black to play for an advantage was with 50...Rd7 followed by 51. Qd8 threatening incursion into the White camp by the Black Rook or 52...Qxa5. 51. Ke2 Rd7
A cute trick for which Teichmann obviously was not going to fall (i.e., 52. Bxe6 Rd1+ winning the White Bishop) 52. Re1
To be able to capture the Black e6 pawn.
52... Qd8
click for larger view53. Bxe6
Anything else could have led to trouble for White. 53... Rd3
The powerful retort Tchigorin had in mind.
54. Bf7+
Forced
54... Ke7
55. Qf2
Forced. This left:
click for larger viewThe climax of the game was fast approaching. |
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Nov-24-23
| | KEG: Post VI
55... Rxh3
Superficially, 55...Qxa5 might also appear playable. But, as the Tournament Book (the analysis for this game in the Tournament Book was by Bachmann and Hoffer) 55...Qxa5? loses. The response, however, is not 56. Qh5+ followed by 57. e6 (as stated in the Tournament Book), though that also probably wins, but 56. e6! immediately. In any case, Tchigorin nicely avoided that pitfall here. 56. Kg2
click for larger view56... Qd3??
'''...a decisive mistake." (<Honza Cervenka> "This move loses the game." (Tournament Book)
The only correct move here for Black was 56...Rd3, which the Tournament Book says "would give good chance" and which in fact is sufficient for Black to hold the game. After the text, Teichmann never gave Tchigorin time to recover, though--for reasons I will discuss presently--he made heavy weather of the winning procedure. 57. Bc4!
The only winning move, which Tchigorin probably overlooked in playing 56..Qd3?. It left the position as follows: 
click for larger viewNow, however Tchigorin plays, he has to lose the exchange: 57... QxB
58. KxR
click for larger viewNow, not only was Teichmann up the exchange, but Tchigorin's remaining minor piece (his Bishop) was still far from a thing of beauty. Nonetheless, the game was to last another 41 (!) moves. While the win is theoretically there, it is tricky. 58... Be6
Clearly Black's best chance.
59. Qe3?
Surprisingly tame. 59. Qd2 would combine offense with defense and was the shortest route to victory. This move was the closest Teichmann came to blowing his win. The position was now:
click for larger viewIn evaluating Teichmann's previous move, it must be recalled that the players were now approaching the move 60 time control. This may explain Tchigorin's next effort: 59... Bd5?
Tchigorin had to play 59...Qc2 to have any real chance. This would make White's task very difficult: e.g., 59...Qc2 60. Qe2 Qb3+ 61. Kh2 Qb4 62. Kg3 Qxa5 [or 62...Qb3+ 63. Kh4] 63. Qe3 after which White would have his work cut out for him to score the full point. 60. e6!
Now Teichmann was very much in the driver's seat,where he would remain for the balance of this still difficult game: 
click for larger view |
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Nov-24-23
| | KEG: Post VII
60.... Qc2
"60...Bxe6 could not be played because of 61. Qe5 threatening Qd6+ and Qxg7+." (Tournament Book) 61. Rg1?
With the move-60 time control reached, Teichmann should have found the far stronger 61. Qe2. But, as will be seen, Teichmann had a little trick to justify his move, the position now being: 
click for larger view61... Qxb2
Did Teichmann throw any his win?
62. Qe5!
Nope!
click for larger view62... QxQ
Forced. Whatever misgivings Tchigorin may have had about reducing to an ending down the exchange, here he had no choice. 63. fxQ
click for larger view63... Bxe6
"If 63...Kxe6 64. Rg1 wins." (Tournament Book)
64. Kg3 Bc8
65. Kf4 Bd7
click for larger viewNow the key question: How can White make progress? The answer is that White must play e6. Indeed, 66. e6! right here looks like a forced win. But this requires considerable calculation. Teichmann, reasonably enough, decided to string the game along through move 75 (the next time control), check and re-check the critical variations, and then play e6 on move 76 after he had worked out all the complications. This plan worked. So let us please bear with Teichmann for his next ten (!) moves: 66. Rb1 Bc8
Obviously forced.
67. Rb2
67. Rb4 followed by 68. Rd4 is another fast-track win. But Teichmann continued with his cat and mouse strategy through move 75. 67... Ke6
Yet again clearly forced.
68. Rd2
68. Rb3 or 63. Rb6 were faster. But Teichmann was sticking to his guns. 68... Bd7
Another forced move for Tchigorin.
69. Rd6+ Ke7
70. Rd4
Again taking the slow train.
70... Ke6
71. Rd1 Ke7
Forced.
72. Rd6
Waiting for the time control to play e6.
72... Bc8
73. Ke3
Yawn.
73... Bd7
74. Kf4 Be6
75. Rd2 Bd7
After that exhausting display of marking time, the game could resume in earnest from the following position: 
click for larger viewNow Teichmann was ready to get down to business! |
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Nov-25-23
| | KEG: Post VIII
76: e6!
"!"--(Tournament Book)
With the move-75 time-control safely behind him, Teichmann had ample time to calculate that the text leads to victory. 
click for larger view76... Kxe6
76...Bxe6 was no better, and also loses. White then wins with 77. Ke5! The Tournament Book's suggested 77. Rb2 in this variation likely also wins, but Black can hang on longer after 77...Kf6 78. Rxb7 Bc4. 77. Rd6+ Ke7
78. Ke4
78. Rd4 is perhaps faster, but the text also is a clear win, and left the position as: 
click for larger view78... f4
The best try to attempt to hold off the inevitable. "!"--(Tournament Book)
79. Rd4!
Nicely played:
click for larger view79... f3
80. Rf4
The most precise winning method.
80... Be8
81. Rxf3
click for larger view81... Bxg6
Might as well.
82. Rb3 Kf8
click for larger view83. Rxb7
The Tournament Book said that 83. Rd3 was "much better, but the text looks just fine to me and definitely wins for White. 83... Bd3
84. Ke6
84. Rb6 is simpler. But the text also works. It left: 
click for larger view |
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Nov-25-23
| | KEG: Post IX
84... g5
With Teichmann poised to win on the Queen's side, Tchigorin decided to fight for counter-play on the other wing. The only practical chance. 85. Rd7
This is more than adequate, but the fastest way was to play 85. Rb6. As will be explained presently, there is no way for Black to defend both Queen-side pawns, since 85...Bb5 loses instantly to 86. RxB and White Queens first...with a move to spare. 85... Bc2
The best practical chance was probably 85...Bc4+. But White then plays 86. Kf5 and it's all over anyway. The text left:
click for larger view86. Rd2
Again, more than sufficient, even if 86. Rf7+ was faster. 86... Bb3+
As the Tournament Book pointed out, 86...Bb1 loses to 87. Rf2. It also would lose to 87. Kf6. 87. Kd7!
Placing Black in a horrible dilemma, since he cannot both support his King-side pawns and also defend against 88. Kxc6. Of course, 87. Kf5 and 87. Kd6 also win fairly easily. 87... Ba4
88. Ra2
Posing yet another impossible dilemma for Tchigorin: 
click for larger view88. Rd4 is perhaps even a quicker way to finish off the game, but the text was also murderous. 88... Bb3
As both the Tournament Book and <Honza Cervenka> have pointed out, the apparentlly logical 88...Bb5 gets instantly crushed by 89. Rb2 followed by 90. RxB! 89. Rf2+
The simplest.
89... Kg7
90. Kxc6
click for larger viewThe game certainly looks over, but Tchigorin still had a trick up his sleeve and so the finale was exciting to the end. 90... Be6
91. Kb6 g4
92. Kxa6 h5
click for larger viewThe pawn race was now on. As a theoretical matter, the position was entirely hopeless for Tchigorin at this point, but--as will be seen--Teichmann had to remain alert to the end. |
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Nov-25-23
| | KEG: Post X
93. Kb6 h4
94. a6 g3
click for larger view95. Rd2!
The most accurate move, though 95. Re2 or 95. Rf4 probably also win comfortably. However, and as the Tournament Book pointed out, had Teichmann gotten sloppy and played 95. Rg2?, Tchigorin could have responded 95...Bd5 would would likely have led to a draw (e.g., 96. Rg1 g2 97. c6 h3 98. c7 h2 99. Rxg2+ BxR 100. c8(Q) h1(Q). That Tchigorin came close to pulling this off displays the difficulty of trying to win a game against this tactical genius. After the text, however, not even Tchigorin could save the game. 95... h3
96. a7 g2
97. Rd1!
The most accurate. It left:
click for larger view97... Bd5
A final try. As the Tournament Book pointed out, if instead 97...h2 then White wins after 98. a8(Q) g1(Q) 99. Qa1+! What a cute line! 98. RxB!
The only way to win, but a fairly simple move to find. 98... g1(Q)
99. a8(Q)
click for larger view1-0
An exciting finish! |
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Kibitzing
