Hastings, 5 August 1895 (French Defence). Round 1. Blackburne meets the exchange variation with great resource, wins the exchange in the middle game and, after Janowski plays it out to the bitter end, forces mate on the 63rd move. Notes by S. Tinsley.
3…dxe4There appears to be no real objection to this. I played it, probably for the first time in my life, against Lasker in this Tournament, and one leading critic remarked that it was my favourite variation!
5.Bd3The thin trap, the Queen’s Pawn left apparently undefended, occurs in many similar positions.
8…Bd6We may point out that Black has here an excellent development, worthy of imitation by less experienced players.
15.hxg3Rather preferable, possibly, is 15. P x Kt, B to Q 3; 16. P x P, B or P x P; 17. Q to K 4, P to Kt 3, White having, at all events, a good game.
23…f6A somewhat unexpected move, which improves in appearance the more it is examined. One effect is to give Black a good deal more freedom for his King and other Pieces.
25…Ng8White intended evidently to capture the Kt P with B or Kt. If now 25. B x P, B x B; 26. R to Kt 3, R to B 3, and Black can defend by Kt to K 2, &c.
29.Ng4This gains the exchange at once, but White is afterwards soon in difficulties. Sounder play was first B to K 4 or to Kt 3.
32.Qf4With an attack on the Q B P. Black, it may be noted, threatened P to K Kt 4, then P to B 5, &c., and White’s danger is Queen and King in line.
34…Re7An uncommonly clever offer of the exchange of Pieces. If now 34. R x R, ch, Q x R, and mate is threatened. In fact, Black would win a Rook by the check at R 5, or gain a winning position after the exchange.
36.Qxg4At first sight curious; but White presumably considered it the least of several evils. Black’s Knight is the difficulty, being so strongly posted, and he must win something sooner or later. If now 36. R x Kt, B x R, and that is worse. But the text move speedily loses the game.
40…Rc1There is nothing but plain sailing for Black after the exchanges about move 36. But it was M. Janowski’s custom to ‘play it out to the bitter end’ in every case, and this principle he carries out here to the fullest extent.
63…a5A curious, but not a brilliant game. White should have done better. Black’s genius is observable at critical points.
Horace F. Cheshire, The Hastings Chess Tournament 1895 (1896) · Public domain · source