An Extraordinary Game With Things Which Came To Mind.

Good afternoon everyone.

A conversation with a chess friend this week brought to mind a favourite game of mine. I have been over it many times via various books.

So, with a day off work, I sat down with some of the books - Nuremberg 1896, by Tarrasch, Magyar Sakktortenet vol 3, by Barcza et.al.

and Charushin's Chess Comet Charousek - and spent a few hours looking at it in depth. On a computer screen, with the engine running! ( not my usual way, but I wanted to check everything - it's an incredibly complex game!)

As I went along I noted everything which came into my head. So this is a blog built around the game notes -they are the heart if it - I will add some of the other games which came to mind at the end.

LOTS of notes! You get opening evolution, a fascinating middle game with some extraordinary positions, and a complex Pawn endgame and Queen endgame. So grab a beer/coffee or two(!) and enjoy the game! It will be time well spent., I hope.

My long time readers will know that I really enjoy the chess of both Charousek and Winawer - I have done more than one blog on each of them. They were both true fighters and could play any kind of position. Charousek in particular had perhaps the purest, most eclectic, style of any player. Similar to Anand or Ivanchuk in modern times.

They met in Charousek's first tournament - Nuremberg 1896.

He was able to take part because Bird was unable to take up his invitation. There is a background story, via Charushin.

''Ferenc Kaszoni remembers those days. ' sorrowful and bewildered Charousek showed the invitation to his aquaintances. He didn't know what to do: there was no money for the trip. His friends helped him out. It seemed to be impossible to miss the opportunity of participating in such an international tournament and a chess genius shouldn't perish from poverty. They organised a fundraising and soon collected ample means for the trip and the stay in Nuremberg.

The initiator and main donor was Dr. P. Lorbeer, who was not only a lawyer but also a chess dilettante. After the newspapers had informed about Charousek's victory over the world champion, a congratulatory telegram from Kassa arrived. Dr. Lorbeer was happy. His friend lived up to his expectations.''

Onto the wonderful game. I love studying and annotating chess games. As Fine said of Alekhine, 'any game played anywhere by anyone was good enough for him to sit for hours studying'. The only thing I have in common with Alekhine! The notes are the blog, and are probably the most extensive I have ever done. So much fascinating chess and so many lines of thought. And yes, I love my chess battles and I love endgames! It was a joy to do the 'work'.

O.K. Some ( there were more!) of the games which came into my head whilst studying the game, for those who have time and patience to look at them.

A rare picture of MacKenzie from the Cleveland public library archives, via Fred Wilson's wonderful 'A Picture History of Chess'. 

There was an article on this site 'best games of the 1920's' which gave The Alekhine - Yates game from London 1922 as it's top game. Alekhine preferred this one, together with his famous ...Re3 game against Reti. Reminds me of another article here of 'the greatest games ever' where Tal's famous ...Nf4 sacrifice was voted top of the list - Tal himself didn't even think it was his best game in the match!!!. I agree with both players on those debates, but that's just my personal opinion - other opinions are available! Any thoughts on such things - my comments are open to all polite opinions.

White's position looks good, but Keres, who knew a thing or two about the Ruy Lopez, took the draw. Perhaps the final word on the whole opening line - Tchigorin's idea basically put it out of business. One for the theoreticians and engine - preppers!  Lots today - hopefully you have enjoyed whatever of the material here you have chosen to look at.
A special thank you to my dear friend  @kamalakanta  for coming to the aid of my ailing memory. The world is descending into the pit of hatred. Always cherish your true friends and those you care about.

Without Charousek's friends this blog would not exist. You never know what you are giving going forward. Try to make sure that history judges you kindly.