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Frank Marshall vs Vladimir Sournin
Marshall - Sournin (1897), Brooklyn, NY USA (Brooklyn CC), rd 6, Jul-06
French Defense: Classical Variation. Richter Attack (C13)  ·  1/2-1/2

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

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Kibitzer's Corner
Jan-24-24
Premium Chessgames Member
  jnpope: <Sournin touched his rook to move it, and noticing that it would mean the loss of a piece, he dropped the rook and stated that he only intended to adjust it. Several onlookers agreed that he should not have touched the piece. Marshall declined to proceed unless Sournin moved the rook, and as Sournin refused, the game was left to the referee, S. R. Rocamora, for decision.>
Brooklyn <Daily Standard Union>, 1897.07.07, p8

<...the referee's verdict, which was to the effect that Sournin must move the rook touched by him, a necessity which involved the loss of a knight to the latter and practically the game, if continued. Thereupon Marshall generously offered the Russian a draw, notwithstanding that the winning of this game would have given to him the match. Sournin promptly accepted and the match will proceed.>
<Brooklyn Daily Eagle>, 1897.07.22, p3

I think Sournin thought that 48...b6 still held winning chances and didn't want to throw that away.

If Sournin was just forced to move the rook he could just play 48...Rg4 (I'm not sure where he's losing the knight) and the resulting lines of play look drawish to me with Black's king being so close to the white pawns, which are far enough back to still be hassled by Black's king, knight and rook, i.e. 48....Rg4 49.h6 Nf5 50.Rxb7 Nxh6 51.Rxa7 Nf5.

Marshall's re-offer of a draw (he offered one earlier in the game) really doesn't seem to be as "generously offered" to me as the report indicates. Or am I missing something obvious, like was Sournin being forced to move the rook off the g-file?

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