1900 - An Opening Invitation

White has a comfortable material advantage, with an extra
knight and pawn. On the other hand, the pieces are all tied down.
If Black has any threats at all they must involve e2, so naturally
White doesn't want to allow access to it. Chigorin, seeing deeply
into the position, takes the contrary position and throws open
the door.
14.Ne5! ! Re2+. 14 . . . Rxe5; 1 5 . dxe5 Qxe5; 1 6.Rel and White
will eventually free himself and exploit the extra rook. 15.Qxe2!
The queen sacrifice was planned all along.
15 ... Bxe2; 16.Bxe2.

16 ... Ne4+. 1 6 . . . Bxc3+; 1 7.Kdl ! and White wins the bishop as
the Black queen is under attack.
1 7.Kd3 Nf2+; 18.Kc4!

Fresh air at last! The king is actually safer out in the open.
18 ... Qh6; 19.Bf3! 19.Kxb4 Nxh l ; 20.Bf3 Qd6+ is still winning,
but it is less efficient and certainly less elegant.
19 . . . c5. Black tries to make room for the king to escape.
1 9 . . . Bxc3?? would overlook 20.Nd7#. White also wins on 19 . . . a5;
20 .Nd7+ Ka7; 2 l .Nb5+ Ka6 ; 22 .b8Q R xb 8 ; 2 3 . Nxb8+ Kb6 ;
24.Nd7+ Ka6; 25.Nxc7+ Ka7; 26.a3 Bd6; 27.Nb5+ Ka6; 28.Re l
with the brutally simple plan o f Re8-a8#. 20.Nd7+.