Throughout his career, Tarrasch virtually owned Mason, defeating him six times and drawing twice in their nine meetings. The one time Mason beat Tarrasch (in the opening round at Hastings 1895) was because Tarrasch overstepped the time control because he wrote his name in line 1 of his score-sheet and therefore mistakenly believed he had made 30 move rather than the 29 he had actually made.

This game was Tarrasch's first game against Mason after that catastrophe at Hastings 1895, and he was not slow to get revenge.

But while Tarrasch was on top for most of this game, even here his rustiness (this was his first tournament since his victory at Vienna 1898) showed as Tarrasch on several occasions failed to find the must crushing line. Considering this game only lasted 24 moves, Tarrasch's errors here were not costly (unlike some of his other games here at Monte Carlo 1902).

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5 a6
4. Bb5 Nf6
5. 0-0 Nxe4

Playing the Open ("Tarrasch") Variation of the Ruy Lopez against Tarrasch himself!

6. d4 b5
7. Bb3 d5
8. a4?!

8. dxe5 is most usual and almost certainly best. Tarrasch's move was nonetheless a success here, since it obviously surprised Mason, who fumbled the ensuing play.

The position after 8. a4 was:

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8... Rb8

Gunsberg in the Tournament Book said that this or 8...b4 were best. In reality, the simple 8...Nxd4 was better.

9. axb5 axb5
10. dxe5 Be6
11. c3

As Gunsberg noted, c3 is often a strong move for White in the Ruy Lopez.

11... Be7
12. Nd4

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Tarrasch had clearly emerged from the opening with the better position, but Black's position is not all that bad...yet. But beginning here, and for the balance of the game. Mason collapsed.

12... NxN?

A bad positional mistake, allowing Tarrasch to consolidate his center. Black would not be all that bad after 12...Qd7. In some variations, Black then has exciting counter-chances; e.g., 13. Re1 Bh4 14. NxB Bxf2+ 15. Kf1 fxN 16. RxN! 0-0 17. Rf4 Bb6 after which Black end up with two pawns and attacking prospects for the sacrificed piece.

13. cxN

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13... f5?!

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14. exf6 e.p. ?

Missing a fine opportunity to seize a winning edge at this early stage. In fact, there were at least two ways to play for a win here:

I) 14. f3 Ng5 15. Qc2 and Black is in big trouble, e.g., 15...Rc8 16. Ra6 Qd7 17. BxN BxB 18.f4 and wherever the Black Bishop retreats Black's game is in the last throes;

II) 14. Ra6 and it is hard to see how Black can muster a decent defense.

By contrast, Tarrasch's move gave Mason a new lease on life. But Tarrasch knew his opponent and perhaps was happy to avoid complications and play on in a superior position expecting that Mason would crack soon---as he did.

14... Nxf6

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15. Qe2 Qd7

15...Bg4 or 15...Rb6 were better. But, as Tarrasch perhaps anticipated, Mason's collapse was just beginning.

16. Re1 Kf7
17. Bf4

17. Nd2 looks like a simpler way to bring his forces to bear on Black, but the text elicited a losing blunder from Mason, the position now being:

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17... Rb7?

Black's position was now a thing of beauty, but with 17...Rhe8 or perhaps 17...Bd6 Mason would have reached a likely defensible position. After the text, Tarrasch could ramp up the pressure.

18. Nd2

Better late than never to play this developing move.

18... Bg4

"To prevent the White Knight obtaining a domineering position on e5 via f3." (Gunsberg)

Indeed, the text looks nearly forced.

19. Nf3 BxN

It must have been painful to cede Tarrasch the two Bishops, but he had no real choice since otherwise Ng5+ would have been crushing.

20. BxB c6
21. Be5

One of several strong moves available to Tarrasch here. 21. Rec1 and 21. Ra6 were also likely winning methods.

The text left:

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21... Rc8?

As noted in the Tournament Book by Gunsberg and as has been pointed out on this site by <wordfunph> , this was a bad mistake that could have been crushed immediately. The best try, as the both Gunsberg and <wordfunph> have correctly indicated, was 21...Rf8. But I disagree with these commentators to the extent they suggest that Mason would then have been "OK."

After 21...Rf8, White still wins handily with 22. Ra6! (e.g., 22...Kg8 [the best try] 23. h3! Ra7 [or 23...Bd8 24. Qc3 Bb6 25. Bc2] 24. RxR QxR 25. Qf5 and, in either case, White's pressure is unstoppable. Gunsberg only considered 22. Bc2? which gives Black some chances after 22...g6.

In any case, after Mason's unfortunate 21...Rc8, the position was:

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22. Bc2

Although this was probably sufficient to win, it is yet another sign that Tarrasch--after a four year layoff--was not in his best form in this tournament. The crushing move that strikes at the heart of Black's weaknesses was 22. Ra6. I would be that the Tarrasch of Vienna 1898 (or the Tarrasch of Monte Carlo 1902 for that matter) would have spotted this move.

After the text, by contrast, Mason now had at least practical chances to hold the game, the position now being:

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22... Kg8?

"Overlooking Bf5." (Gunsberg)

Quite right. Mason had to play 22...g6. After the text, Black's game is in shambles:

23. Bf5

23. BxN followed by 24. Bf5 would also have been decisive.

23... Qe8

Slightly better would have been 23...Qd8 or maybe 23...Rf8. But at this point the game was gone anyway.

24. Qh3

24. BxN followed by 25. Qg4 also wina.

After the text, the position was:

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