from "Pillsbury's Chess Career" by Philip W. Sergeant and William Henry watts

Tarrasch & Hoffer vs. Pillsbury & Dadian [C33]
Consultation Game Monte Carlo, August 2, 1902


1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 d5 4.Bxd5 Qh4+ 5.Kf1 g5 6.Nf3 Qh5 7.Nc3 Bg7 8.d4 Ne7 9.h4 Nbc6

[Pillsbury wished to test the value of this move. The opening had been agreed upon in the present game before the players drew for colours.]

10.Nxg5 Qxd1+ 11.Nxd1 Nxd5 12.exd5 Nxd4 13.Bxf4 Nxc2 14.Rc1 Bf5 15.Ne3 Nxe3+ 16.Bxe3 h6

[With a view to their next move.]

17.Nf3 0-0-0 18.Bf4 Rd7 19.d6 c6 20.Ne5

[Hoffer notes that this move was the only move to maintain equality, and that Black's reply was the only move also. The position is a very interesting one.]

20...Rxd6 21.Nxf7 Rf6 22.Nd6+

[If  22.Nxh8 Bd3+ 23.Kf2 Rxf4+ 24.Ke3 Black does not appear to have anything better than  24...Rg4 , and if 25.Kxd3 then 25...Bxb2 , getting at least two Pawns should White to decide to escape with the Knight.]

22...Kd7 23.Be5 Rxd6 24.Bxg7 Rg8 25.Bc3 Be4 26.Rh2 Bd5

[If 26...Rdg6 27.Rd1+ , with Rd2 to follow.]

27.a3 Re6 28.Re1 Reg6 29.Rd1

[The only move to save the Pawn, 29.Re2 being obviously bad.]

29...Kc8 30.Rd2 Re6 31.Rf2 Bc4+ 32.Kg1 Re3

[To stop Rh3]

33.Bd2 Rd3 34.Rh1 Rg4

[This prevents Kh2, by which White wished to liberate his Rh1.]

35.Rf4 h5! 36.Rf2

[If  36.Rxg4 hxg4 37.Be1 g3 and White is lost.]

36...Bd5 37.Bg5 Rdg3 38.Rh2 b6 39.Bf6

[39.Bf4 would not do because of 39...Rxg2+ 40.Rhxg2 Bxg2 41.Rxg2 Rxf4 , etc.]

39...a5 40.Re2 Kb7 41.Be5 Rd3 42.g3

[At last the Rh1 has a glimpse of freedom!]

42...Rd1+ 43.Kf2 Bc4 44.Re3

[If 44.Rc2 Bd3 45.Rc3 Re4 , and again White is lost.]

44...c5 45.Bc3 Ka6 46.Re1 Rd3 47.Be5 b5 48.Kg1 b4 49.axb4 cxb4 50.Rf2 Bd5 51.Rf5

[Draw agreed.]

½-½


 

return