Hypermodern Master Breyer Crushes Classical Tarrasch - Breyer vs. Tarrasch, 1914
Gyula Breyer was a tremendously promising player and one of the leaders of the hypermodern school of chess. He passed away at a young age (28) in 1921 when he was at the height of his powers. Just one year prior he had won one of the biggest chess tournaments of the year, defeating Bogoljubow, Tarrasch, Tartakower, and more great players.
Breyer also invented the still popular Breyer defense to the Ruy Lopez, and he set a record (at the time) by playing 25 games simultaneously while blindfolded.
Like many, his career was interrupted by World War I. In the last tournament before the war (a tournament literally interrupted by war's declaration!), he bested the great Tarrasch in the following instructive game.
Lessons:
- Defend against an exchange sac actively.
- Value squares (f5), color complexs and unopposed bishops!
My notes are below. Note that this seemingly one-sided game could actually have been turned around by Tarrasch had he not played listlessly after the exchange sac.
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I'm the Head of Community for Chess.com. I earned the National Master title in 2012, and in 2014, I returned to my home state of South Carolina to start Strategery: Chess and Games. In late 2015, I began working for Chess.com and haven't looked back since.
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