Notes by R. Teichmann.

1. 3…Nd4 Mr. Bird's favourite defence to the Ruy Lopez, which gives a slight advantage to the first player on account of Black's doubled Queen's Pawn.
2. 5…h5 Somewhat eccentric, and regardless of the established principles of development; but Mr. Bird likes to go his own way.
3. 9.f5 White, however, attacks too hurriedly; he ought to develop his Knight first. This premature advance of the King's Bishop's Pawn forces him very soon to compromise his own King's position.
4. 13.h3 Necessary, to be able to support the advanced Bishop's Pawn. Black cannot take it at once, because after 13. B x P, 14. R to K sq. White would win the Queen's Pawn and open the diagonal again for his King's Bishop.
5. 13…a5 Very well played. The Black Queen's Rook is thus brought into play without loss of time.
6. 17…g6 This fine move initiates a. powerful attack on the exposed White King's position, whilst the Black King will be perfectly safe at K Kt 2.
7. 21.Kh1 If 21. K to B 2, Kt X P, 22. B to Kt 3, P X P, winning in a few moves.
8. 27…f5 So far Black has played very well, but with this curious oversight he throws away what should have been an easily won game. The simplest way would have been to exchange Queens [by Q x B, ch], leaving him with a strong passed Pawn ahead for the end game.
9. 37.Qc3+ The position (see diagram) being very difficult, Herr Marco tried to gain time by these checks; but he overlooked that with this move the same position occurred for the third time, which, according to the rules in force, permitted his opponent to claim a draw. White had a won game. It seems, however, difficult to force the game by the exchange of Queens, although White would be a Pawn ahead in the end game. But I think he could have won by the following interesting though difficult line of play:—33. Q to B 7, ch, K to R 3; 34. B x B, R x B; 35. K to Kt 2, Q to K 4 (best; if Q to B 3, then 36. R to R sq, ch, K to Kt 4; 37. Q to R 7, winning); 36. R to R sq, ch, K to Kt 4; 37. Kt to K 4, ch (otherwise he cannot avoid the draw), P x Kt (best); 38. P to Kt 7, B to B 6, ch; 39. K to B 2, Q to B 4, ch (or a); 40. K to B sq, B to Kt 7, ch; 41. K x B, Q x P, ch; 42. Q to B 2, Q x Q, ch; 43. K x Q and wins. (a) 39. ... P to K 6, ch; 40. K to B sq, P to K 7, ch (best); 41. K to B 2, P to K 8 (Q), ch (if Q to B 4, ch, then 42. K to K sq); 42. R x Q, Q to R 7, ch; 43. K x B, Q to R 6, ch; 44. K to B 2, Q to R 7 (?), ch; 45. K to K 3 and the King gets out of the checks. It is noteworthy, that in this variation White could even, instead of 40. K to B sq, play 40. K x B and still win, e.g.—40. K x B, R to B 3, ch; 41. K to K 2, R to B 7, ch; 42. K to K sq, R x Q; 43. P to Kt 8 (Q), ch, R to Kt 2; 44. R to Kt sq, ch, K to R 3; 45. Q to R 8, ch, winning easily. [This game is a good illustration of Mr. Bird’s play—lively and original. He generally combines his 5. P to K R 4 with this defence, holding that his King is sufficiently safe on B sq without Castling.—Ed.]