[blind-chess] Annotated Game 030 - James Mason - Simon AbramOwicz Winawer
- From: "R Dinger" <rrdinger@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "chess" <blind-chess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2011 17:45:26 -0700
Annotated Game #030:
James Mason - Simon AbramOwicz Winawer, Vienna 1882
Adapted and Condensed from
Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia
Contents:
++1. James Mason
++1.A Chess strength
++1.B Books
++2. Simon Abramowicz Winawer
++3. James Mason - Simon AbramOwicz Winawer, Vienna 1882
++1. James Mason
James Mason (November 19, 1849 - January 12, 1905) was a famous
chess player and writer. He was born in Kilkenny in Ireland. His
original name is unknown: he was adopted as a child and only took
the name James Mason when he and his family moved to the United
States in 1861. There he learnt chess and eventually secured a job
at the New York Herald.
Mason made his first mark on the chess scene in 1876, when he won
the Fourth American Congress in Philadelphia, the New York Clipper
tournament, and defeated Henry Bird in a match by the comfortable
margin of 13-6. In 1878 he settled in England. His best tournament
results were third at the very strong Vienna 1882 tournament, third
at Nuremberg 1883 and equal second at Hamburg 1885. At Hastings
1895, often considered the strongest tournament of the nineteenth
century, he finished tied for 12th-14th with 9.5 points of 21
possible.
Mason wrote several books on chess, the most popular being The
Principles of Chess in Theory and Practice (1894), The Art of Chess
(1895), Chess Openings (1897), and Social Chess (1900).
The opening 1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 (in algebraic chess notation) is
sometimes called the Mason Variation in his honour; he played it
several times from the 1880s. The variation of the King's Gambit 1.
e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nc3 (allowing 3. ... Qh4+) is sometimes called
the Mason Gambit, though Mason lost the only game he played with it
(against Samuel Rosenthal at Paris 1878); it is also known as the
Keres Gambit. The 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4
d5 6. Bd3 Be7 7. 0-0 0-0 variation of the Petroff Defense is also
named after him.
He died in Rochford, Essex, England.
++1.A Chess strength
According to Chessmetrics, at his peak in October 1876 Mason's play
was equivalent to an Elo rating of 2715, and he was ranked number
2 in the world, behind only Wilhelm Steinitz. However, Mason was
ranked the number 1 player in the world, albeit with a slightly
lower rating, during 11 separate months between August 1877 and
June 1878. His best single performance was at Vienna 1882, where he
scored 15 of 23 possible points (65%) against 2622-rated
opposition, for a performance rating of 2732.
++1.B Books
* James Mason (1958). The Art of Chess. Dover Publications.
ISBN 0-486-20463-5.
++2. Simon Abramowicz Winawer
Simon Abramowicz Winawer (March 6, 1838 - January 12, 1920), born
in Warsaw, Poland, was a leading chess player who won the German
Chess Championship in 1883.
At the Paris 1867 tournament held at the Cafe de la Regence, his
first international tournament, Winawer finished in second place,
tied with Steinitz, behind Kolisch. He remained one of the world's
best players for the next 15 years. At Warsaw 1868 Winawer won the
first chess tournament conducted in Poland. He won an 1875 match in
Saint Petersburg against Russian master Ilya Shumov, 5-2. At Paris
1878 Winawer tied for first place (+14 =5 -3) with Zukertort, ahead
of Blackburne and Mackenzie, but took second prize after the play-
off. At Berlin 1881 he finished equal 3rd with Chigorin. Winawer's
best result was a first place tie with Steinitz at Vienna 1882, in
what was the strongest chess tournament in history up to that time.
At London 1883 he failed to place for the first time, but later
that year at Nuremberg (3rd German Congress) he finished first,
defeating Blackburne who took second place.
After a long absence Winawer returned to chess in the 1890s, but by
then he had been surpassed by younger players including Tarrasch
and Lasker. At Dresden 1892 and Budapest 1896 he placed sixth. He
lost an 1896 match to Janowski 2-5. He turned 61 during his final
international tournament, Monte Carlo 1901, and did not place among
the prizewinners. Winawer continued to play competitive chess into
his 60s, and in his career he faced all of the top players from the
last third of the 19th century, from Anderssen to Lasker. His
rivalry with Blackburne stretched from 1870 to 1901, and they met
in competitive games in five consecutive decades. Winawer died in
Warsaw on January 12, 1920.
Winawer has several opening variations named for him. The most
important is the popular Winawer Variation of the French Defense.
His name is also associated with the Winawer Attack in the Ruy
Lopez. At Monte Carlo 1901, Winawer's last international
tournament, he introduced the Winawer Countergambit in the Slav
Defense in a game against Marshall.
In one of his finest games, he beat Steinitz in Nuremberg in 1896:
Simon Winawer - Wilhelm Steinitz
Nuremberg 1896
1. e4 e5
2. d4 exd4
3. Qxd4 Nc6
4. Qe3 Nf6
5. Nc3 Bb4
6. Bd2 0-0
7. 0-0-0 Re8
8. Bc4 Bxc3
9. Bxc3 Nxe4
10. Qf4 Nf6
11. Nf3 d6
12. Ng5 Be6
13. Bd3 h6
14. h4 Nd5
15. Bh7+ Kh8
16. Rxd5 Bxd5
17. Be4 f6
18. Bxd5 fxg5
19. hxg5 Ne5
20. g6
1-0
++3. James Mason - Simon AbramOwicz Winawer
Vienna 1882
White: James Mason
Black: Simon AbramOwicz Winawer
Result: 1-0
ECO: C50 - Italian Game, Symmetrical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo
Variation
Notes by R.J. Macdonald.
1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bc4 Bc5
(This is the Symmetrical Variation of the Italian Game. 4. b4 leads
to the Evans Gambit, while 4. c3 and 4. d4 are associated with the
Giuoco Piano.)
4. d3
(This quiet move is known as The Giuoco Pianissimo Variation .)
4. ... d6
(Also possible is 4. ... Nf6 5. Nc3 h6 6. 0-0 0-0 7. Be3 Bxe3 8.
fxe3 d6 9. Qd2 Na5 10. Bb3 c6 11. d4, with equality. The risky
Dubois Variation continues 4. ... f5 5. Ng5 f4. but is considered
strong for white.)
5. Be3
(An alternative is 5. Ng5 Nh6 6. Nc3 0-0 7. h3 Nd4 8. a3 a5 9. 0-0
c6 10. Be3 b5 11. Ba2, with a slight edge for white.)
5. ... Bb6
6. Nbd2
(6. 0-0 Bg4 7. Nbd2 Nf6 was played in the game n. Hoiberg - j.
Christensen, Aarhus 1985,with equal chances. aLSO POSSIBLE IS 6. h3
Nf6 7. Nbd2 0-0 8. c3 h6 9. Qc2 Be6 10. d4 Bxc4 11. Nxc4 exd4 12.
Nxd4 Re8 13. Nxb6 axb6 14. Ne2 Qd7 15. 0-0, as in the game l.
Lonnemark - f. Steil Antoni, Herceg Novi 2005.)
6. ... h6
(This move consolidates black's control of the g5 square. Other
possibilities include 6. ... Nf6 7. Qe2 (7. Nf1 d5 8. exd5 Nxd5 9.
Qd2 h6 10. 0-0-0 Be6 11. Bb5 Qd6 12. Ng3 f5 13. Bxb6 axb6 14. Nxe5
Qxe5 15. Rde1 Rxa2 16. c4 0-0 17. Bxc6 Qd4 18. Bxd5 Bxd5 19. cxd5
Ra1+ 20. Kc2 Qa4+ 21. Kc3 Qa5+, I. Gunsberg - M. Harmonist,
Frankfurt 1887, and black won in 26 moves) 7. ... Ne7 (7. ... Qe7
8. Nf1 Bd7 9. Bb3 0-0 10. Bg5 h6 11. Bh4 Na5 12. Ne3 c6 13. h3 Bxe3
14. fxe3 Nxb3 15. axb3 Qe6 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. 0-0 Qe7 18. Nd2 Qg5
19. Kh2 Be6 20. Rf2 a6 21. Raf1 Qh4 22. g4 0-1, in 38 moves, as in
the game J. Mason - Baird, New York 1889.) 8. Bb3 c6 9. d4 exd4 10.
Bxd4 Bxd4 11. Nxd4 0-0 12. 0-0 Re8 13. Qc4 d5 14. exd5 Nexd5 15.
Rae1 Bd7 16. N2f3 Qc7 17. Qd3 Rad8 18. Rxe8+ Rxe8 19. Rd1 Bg4 20.
Bxd5 Nxd5 21. h3 0-1 in 24 moves, as in the game T. Von Scheve - J.
Berger, Frankfurt 1887.) If 6. ... Nf6 7. 0-0 and equality.)
7. Nf1
(7. 0-0 Nf6 offers equality.)
7. ... Nf6
8. h3
(Secures g4. 8. Bxb6 axb6 9. Ne3 0-0 offers equality.)
8. ... Ne7
(8. ... Na5 9. N3d2 with equal chances.)
9. Ng3
(9. Bxb6 axb6 10. Ne3 0-0 and equality.)
9. ... c6
(This Prevents intrusion on b5+d5. 9. ... Bxe3 10. fxe3 c6 11. 0-0
would offer equal chances.)
10. Bb3
(10. d4 Qc7 offers equal chances.)
10. ... Bxe3
(This offers equal chances.)
11. fxe3 Qb6
(11. ... a5 12. a4 and both sides have equal chances.)
12. Qd2
(12. d4 0-0 leads to equality.)
12. ... a5
(12. ... 0-0 13. 0-0 with equal chances.)
13. c3
(13. a4 Be6 14. Ra3 0-0 and equality.)
13. ... a4
14. Bd1 Be6
15. 0-0 Qc7
16. Nh4 b5
(16. ... 0-0 17. Nhf5 Bxf5 18. Nxf5 Nxf5 19. Rxf5 with equality.)
17. Bc2
(17. Nhf5 Bxf5 18. Nxf5 Nxf5 19. Rxf5 Qe7 and equality.)
17. ... c5
18. Ngf5 Bxf5
19. Nxf5 Nxf5
20. Rxf5 Nd7
(20. ... a3 21. b3 and equality.)
21. Raf1 f6
(21. ... 0-0 22. Qf2 Nb6 23. Qg3 offers equal chances.)
22. Bd1
(22. Qe2 0-0 and equality.)
22. ... a3
(22. ... 0-0 23. Qf2 with equal chances.)
23. Bh5+ Ke7
24. b3 Rhf8
(24. ... c4!? 25. dxc4 bxc4 is unclear.)
25. R5f3 Nb6
26. Rg3 Kd8
27. Bg4 Qe7
(27. ... Qf7 28. Bf5 is strong for white.)
28. Be2
(28. d4 c4 gives white a strong position.)
28. ... Kc7
(28. ... Kc8 29. d4 with a strong advantage for white.)
29. d4 c4
30. Rb1 g5
31. bxc4 bxc4
32. Rb4 Qe6
(32. ... exd4 33. Qxd4 Rab8 34. Rf3 with a strong advantage for
white.)
33. d5
(White has a very strong position.)
33. ... Qc8
34. Bxc4 Na4
35. Bb5 Nc5
36. Qe2 f5
(36. ... Rf7 37. Qh5 Qg8 38. Bc6 is very strong for white.)
37. exf5
(37. Qh5 fxe4 38. Bc6 Rf6 is very strong for white.)
37. ... e4
(37. ... Rxf5 38. Rgg4 and white is winning.)
38. Bc6 Rb8
39. Qh5
Key Move Diagram:
1rq2r2/
2k5/
2Bp3p/
2nP1PpQ/
1R2p3/
p1P1P1RP/
P5P1/
6K1
Position after white's 39th move.
39. ... Rf6?
(39. ... Rxf5 40. Qxh6 Qh8 still gives white a very strong
advantage.)
40. Rxg5 hxg5
(40. ... Qf8 is black's last chance to resist the inevitable: 41.
Rg6 Rxf5 42. Qxh6 Rf1+ 43. Kh2 Qxh6 44. Rxh6 Rbf8, but white still
should win.)
41. Qh7+ Nd7
(41. ... Kd8 does not save the day because of 42. Qh8+ Kc7 43. Qxf6
and white should win easily.)
42. Bxd7 Qg8
(42. ... Qxd7 - there is nothing else anyway - 43. Rc4+ Kd8 44.
Qh8+ Qe8 45. Qxf6+ Qe7 46. Qh8+ Qe8 with a winning advantage for
white.)
Key Move Diagram:
1r4q1/
2kB3Q/
3p1r2/
3P1Pp1/
1R2p3/
p1P1P2P/
P5P1/
6K1
Position after black's 42nd move.
43. Rb7+!
(it's best to give back material here.)
43. ... Kxb7
Key Move Diagram:
1r4q1/
1k1B3Q/
3p1r2/
3P1Pp1/
4p3/
p1P1P2P/
P5P1/
6K1
Position after black's 43rd move.
44. Bc8+!!
(Discovered attack!)
44. ... Ka8
(44. ... Kxc8+ Decoy to c8 and 45. Qxg8 Annihilates a defender on
g8.)
45. Qxg8 Rxf5
46. Qd8
(46. Bxf5 is not playable because of 46. ... Rxg8 47. c4 Rb8 and a
decisive advantage for black.)
46. ... Rxd5
47. Qd7
(47. Qe8 might be the shorter path: 47. ... Rd1+ 48. Kh2 Rxc8 49.
Qxc8+ Ka7 50. Qc7+ Ka8 51. Qa5+ Kb7 52. Qxg5 Rc1 53. Qe7+ Kc6 54.
Qxe4+ Kd7 55. Qa4+ Ke7 56. Qxa3 Rf1 and white wins.)
47. ... Rb1+
(47. ... Rb6 cannot change what is in store for black: 48. Qe8 Rc5
49. Bf5+ Kb7 50. Qd7+ Kb8 51. Qd8+ Kb7 52. Bxe4+ Rbc6 53. Qxd6 Rxc3
54. Bxc6+ Rxc6 55. Qxa3 and white wins.)
48. Kh2 Rd2
(48. ... Rc5 is no salvation: 49. Qe8 and white wins.)
49. Qc6+ Kb8
50. Qxe4
(50. Bf5 secures the win: 50. ... d5 51. Qd6+ Kb7 52. Bxe4 Rb5 and
it's all over.)
50. ... Rbb2
51. Be6 Kc7
(51. ... Rxg2+ hoping against hope, but after 52. Qxg2 Kc7 blackis
done for.)
52. Qc4+ Kb6
(52. ... Kb8 doesn't get the cat off the tree: 53. Qc8+ Ka7 54.
Qc7+ Ka8 55. Bd5+ Rxd5 56. Qc6+ Kb8 57. Qxd5 and white wins.)
53. Bd5 g4
(53. ... Rxd5 doesn't change anything: 54. Qxd5 Kc7 55. Qa5+ Kd7
56. Qxa3 is decisive for white.)
54. hxg4
(54. Qc6+ Ka5 55. Qc7+ Ka6 56. Bc4+ Rb5 57. Qc8+ Ka7 58. Bxb5 g3+
59. Kxg3 Rxg2+ 60. Kxg2 Kb6 61. Qc6+ Ka7 62. Qc7+ Ka8 63. Bc6#)
54. ... Rf2
55. Qc6+ Ka7
56. Qc7+
(Black resigned in view of 56. Qc7+ Ka6 57. Qxd6+ Ka7 58. Qc7+ Ka6
59. Bc4+ Rb5 60. Qc6+ Ka7 61. Bxb5 Rf7 62. Bd3 Rh7+ 63. Bxh7 Kb8
64. Qb6+ Kc8 65. Bf5#)
1-0
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