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Henry Bird vs Harry Pillsbury
London (1899), London ENG, rd 3, Jun-02
King's Gambit: Falkbeer Countergambit. Anderssen Attack (C31)  ·  0-1

ANALYSIS [x]

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Kibitzer's Corner
Aug-30-04
Premium Chessgames Member
  tamar: Pretty strange goings on. Sergeant says after 9. Qf1 "A move like this practically indicates a lost game. But Black threatened Kt-Kt5."
Apr-04-08  Knight13: White should just develop with Nc3 Bc4 d3 and not do those crazy stuff that Bird tried.
Oct-02-15  chessgamer2000: what's the finish after Kf1?
Oct-02-15
Premium Chessgames Member
  keypusher: <chessgamer2000: what's the finish after Kf1?>

After 28.Kf1, 28....Qd4 threatening ...Ne3+ is unanswerable, e.g. 29.Qe2 Ne3+ 30.Kf2 Nc2+ and ...Nxa1.

Nov-25-16
Premium Chessgames Member
  KEG: Pillsbury demolishes Bird's pathetic play.

As Sergeant (quoted by Tamar) correctly notes, Bird was probably lost after 9. Qf1. In fact, he was probably lost after 7. Qe2 (the so-called "Bird's Variation" of the Falkbeer Counter-Gambit). More normal developing moves such as those suggested by Knight13 would unquestionably have been better than Bird's horrible variation.

Even after Bird's poor 7. Qe2 and 9. Qf1, he might have made a fight of it without a series of suicidal efforts between his 10th and 18th moves. After Bird's 18. Qf2, Pillsbury had various ways to win, but his 18...RxB was prettiest (Fritz, predictably, plays the butcher-life 18...Rd6).

There appears to be an error in the text. According to the Tournament Book, Pillsbury's final move was 27...Qd3 check (followed by 28...Ne3 mate next move), not 27...Qe3 check as reported by Sergeant. I can't believe that Pillsbury missed the two move mate, and must assume that the actual move was 27...Qd3 check. If indeed Pillsbury played 27...Qe3 check, then the line given by keypusher would have ended matters in a few moves at most.

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