Friday, February 8, 2008

Taubenhaus-Pollock, Nottingham 1886


The White King is driven to c3 and Black wins both Rooks, but it is the Black King that succumbs to a hunt in which the White King himself participates.

Taubenhaus – Pollock
Nottingham, 1886
C39 KING’S GAMBIT ACCEPTED, Allgaier Variation

1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. h4 g4 5. Ng5

The Allgaier Gambit, which commits White to the sacrifice of a piece.

5. ... h6 6. Nxf7 Kxf7 7. d4 f3 8. Bc4+ d5 9. Bxd5+ Ke8 10. gxf3 g3 11. f4 Nf6 12. Bc4 g2 13. Rg1 Bg4 14. Qd3

Threatening 15. e5 and 16. Qg6+. Black finds a clever reply that deserved a better fate.

14. ... Nc6 15. e5 Ne4 16. Qxe4 Qxh4+ 17. Kd2 Qf2+ 18. Kc3 Qxg1 19. Be3 Qe1+

Obvious, but not the best -- after 19. ... Bf5! Black would retain his material advantage safely.

(Diagram)

20. Nd2 g1(Q) 21. Bxg1 Qxa1?

Too greedy. With 21. ... Qxe4 Black would have good winning chances, though the White central pawns would have to be treated with respect. After the text Black is lost.

22. Qg6+ Kd8 23. Qf6+ Kc8 24. Qxh8 Kd7 25. Qh7+ Be7 26. e6+ Bxe6 27. Bxe6+ Kxe6 28. d5+ Kxd5 29. Qf5+ Ne5 30. Qxe5+ Kc6 31. Qxe7 Qxg1 32. Qe6+ Kb5 33. a4+ Kxa4 34. Qb3+ Ka5 35. Nc4+ Ka6 36. Qa4 mate

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