KEG: Post II
After 15. Rh5, the game got very sharp--just the sort of game in which Tchigorin excelled. 15... b4?
But this was a mistake by Tchigorin. "This move, giving up the important c4 square, ought to have given White the better game." (Panov). 16...Nh4 was much better, after which chances would have been about even. 16. Na4!
This move displays Burn's profound understanding of the position. 16. Ne4 superficially looks best, but--as Panov has explained in his commentary on this game--this would have allowed Tchigorin to play 16...Nxd4!! and after 16. exN Qxd4 obtain the better game though being down a piece for two/three pawns. The text does not allow Tchigorin any such chances, and Burn retains the better game. 16... f5
Aggressive play by Tchigorin. The position was now: 
click for larger view17. Qf3
This move has been criticized by all the commentators on this game, all of whom recommended 17. Qh3. While it is hard to contest the claim that 17. Qh3 would have been better, a close analysis of the position reveals that: (i) Burn would have had the advantage but by no means a won game with 17. Qh3; and (ii) Burn still had much the better position even after the text. Much of the arguments for the merits of 17. Qh3 only consider weak defense by Black. For example, if 17. Qh3 h6? Tchigorin would indeed be lost, but not with 18. Qg2 as recommended by Marco (after which Tchigorin could have played 18...Qe8) but by 18. Bc4! Another response to 17. Qh3 considered by Marco is 17...Qe8. But then Burn would have a significant, though not necessarily winning, game after 18. Bc4 (but not by Marco's suggested 18. Rc1 after which Tchigorin would have been very much in the game after 18...Nxd4!. After 17. Qh3 Qd5, considered by Panov in his analysis, Burn would have a likely win after 18. b3 (but not after Panov's inferior 18. Rc1 because of 18...Nxf4). Best for Black after 17. Qh3 was 17...Qd7 after which Tchigorin would have had a difficult but defensible game. Most importantly, even after the text, Burn has a good game (though not as good as after 17. Qh3 Qd7). But from this point on, Tchigorin plays excellently and outplays his talented opponent. 17... Qe8!
A subtle move that combines defense with offensive (e.g., the potential discovered attack on the a4 Knight). Burn most have overlooked this resource in his calculations. He now goes badly astray, losing all of his advantage with his next move and falling into a totally lost position with his error two moves later. The consequences of Tchigorin's clever 17...Qe8 soon make themselves felt. In fairness to Burn, the position at this stage is so complicated that the commentators seem bewildered. To the extent I may have found the best lines for White, it must be recalled that I have had a few says to consider the position plus the chance to review my lines with the help of computer analysis. 18. Qh3?
As Marco noted in his commentary, Burn has lost a move as compared with 17. Qh3. Rosenthal in the Tournament Book claims that Burn here should have played 18. b3, but this would allow Tchigorin to turn the tables with 18...Nxf4! and if then 19. exN Nxd4 with the better game for Black. The only move by which Burn could have retained the advantage was the careful 18. Qd1 (simultaneously defending both the a4 Knight and the h5 Rook). But this was a hard move to find when Burn was looking for a King-side attack. The position was now:
click for larger viewHere Tchigorin displayed his tactical genius with: 18... Nxd4!
Burn obviously overlooked this move. He must now play with great care to avoid disaster. 19. exN QxN
click for larger viewThe crisis of the game had arrived, and the game from here was decided within the next few moves. I will cover this crucial stage of the game in my next post on this site. | 
Kibitzing
