Yes, and the fact that the game finishes with the subtly elegant c3 is so much more beautiful for me than the blunt instrument Rg3+, but engines have no concept of beauty, only of what calculates as stronger or weaker.
Is this a good move or a bad one?
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Jun 22, 2021
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#23
I agree Tarrasch did not find the best move. The move he saw gained him an insurmountable (at top GM level) advantage. Mieses saw that his position was hopeless and resigned. Calling 20.c3, or any move that leaves you with an easy win "absolutely a blunder" is unrealistic.
If you look at it objectively 20. c3 is absolutely a blunder and at the same time a move that will force a resign. After 20. c3 black can keep going on by giving up the queen for a rook. Sometimes those kind of positions can still be tricky, but not here. So black will resign. However 20. Rg3+ is much better, as black now can't sacrifice the queen for a rook. After 20. ... Kh8 there's 21. c3, Qe5; 22. f4 and black can't keep defending g7 and loses the whole queen. And after 20. ... Qg4 it's not just that black loses a queen for a rook but after 21. Rxg4, fxg4 it's checkmate after 22. Bxh7+, Kh8; 23. Bg6+, Kg8; 24. Qh7+, Kf8; 25. Qxf7#.
This position teaches us 3 things:
- if you can see a good move, take the time to look for a better move. You can usually do this by always making sure that you look for at least 3 candidate moves. Never even instantly capture something back without looking for alternatives!
- if the computer suggests a move, ask yourself if that move is necessary and human. After 20. c3 black just resigned. How important is it that 20. Rg3+ is indeed better?
- and lastly, analyse your wins too!
Thank you Roel! There seems to be a dichotomy here in that:
No problem!
I think it's more of a theoretical dichotomy if any. These grandmasters have played thousands of games. They can objectively see that the game will be over after c3 and from experience they'll know that this is enough to force resignation. In practice it could even work out the other way around: Rg3+ is not the key move here, that's c3. So after Rg3+ you'll likely get the answer of Kh8 and only resignation after the subsequent c3. That being said, winning in less moves is not a separate goal in chess. Both moves are good enough, even though one move wins the queen and the other gives up a rook for it.