At move 30, Fritz shows that Black's c8 Bishop could have provided the winning move: (-8.73) (21 ply) 30...Bb5! 31.Qc2 Rgc8 32.Qd1 Rxa2 33.Rxa2 Bxe5 34.Rd2 Rc3 35.fxe5 Rxb3+.

On the very next move, the c8-Bishop could have won it again: 31...Bb5! 32.Qf3 Rg7 33.Rd1 Qa3 34.Qf2 Rc8.

Finally, our powerful Bishop did get into play. Wolf played 32...Bb5!, and after 33.Qc2, he should have continued, 33...Bc4! 34.h5 Bxb3! 35.axb3 Qa5 36.Qa2 Qxa2+ 37.Rxa2 Rxa2 38.hxg6 Rg2 39.gxf7 Kg7 40.Ne8+ Kxf7, with very good winning chances for Black.

In his game with Wolf, Olland first sacrificed a Bishop and later he sacrificed his Rook for a Bishop!. The 2nd sacrifice was incorrect, but it led to many interesting variations.

Wolf too, made some interesting moves, including an offer of a Pawn in the opening.

After 11...Bd7, the tournament book states the Pawn sacrifice is of doubtful value, and that White could calmly accept it. One variation they noted was: 12.Bxd5 Nxd5 13.Qxd5 Bc6 14.Qxd8+ Raxd8 15.Nf3 Bxf3 16.gxf3 Rxd4 17.Be3 Rxd1+ 18.Rxd1. Now the tournament book states that White has the better position, but indicated Olland had declined the sacrifice, preferring instead to complete his development.

After 11...Bd7, Fritz prefers 12.Ne2 (.37) (20 ply) 12...Bc6 13.b3 0-0 14.Nc3 Re8 15.Rhe1.

However, Fritz also agrees the acceptance of the Pawn is slightly in White's favor: 12.Bxd5 Nxd5 13.Qxd5 Bc6 14.Qxd8+ Raxd8 15.Nf3 Bxf3 16.gxf3 Rxd4 17.Be3 Rxd1+ 18.Rxd1, and now: (.20) (20 ply) 18...Be5 19.Bxa7 Bxh2 20.Bb6 Bd6, or (.21) (20 ply) 18...b6 19.f4 e5 20.Rd3 exf4 21.Bxf4 Ke7.

Fritz agrees 22.Bxh5 is White's best move. After 22.Bxh5 gxh5 23.Nxh5 Ne4 24.Qe3, the position is in White's favor.

The tournament book indicated the immediate 25...a4 is an improvement over 25...Qa3+. Fritz agrees that 25...a4 26.Kb1 Rfc8 would have increased Black's advantage.

At move 27, White's best was: (-.31) (20 ply) 27.Re2 Rfc8 28.Nxg7 Kxg7 29.h5. Instead after: (-.54) (21 ply) 27.Rd2? axb3 28.cxb3 Qa5, Black could have increased his advantage.

In the game White played 27.Rd2? and after 27...Rg8?, White still had good drawing chances by playing: (-.16) (21 ply) 28.Qe2! axb3 29.cxb2 Qa6 30.Qe3 Bb5 31.Nxg7 Rxg7 32.h5, or 31...Kxg7 32.h5.

Instead, White played 28.f4?, and after axb3 29.cxb3 Qb4, White's position was becoming critical. In desperation, Olland now sought refuge in another sacrifice.

Even the tournament book gave 30.Re5 an exclamation mark and stated: <With a view to 31.Nf6 Bxf6 32.gxf6 followed by Rh5+>.

However, the 2007 edition of the tournament book correctly noted that 30.Re5 was an error, and should result in a loss for White.

Chigorin was of the opinion that 30.Re5? was a losing move. Writing in "Novoe Vremya" and translated and reprinted by the "British Chess Magazine", Chigorin stated that, after 30.Re5?, Black could win with 30...Bb5! 31.Qe3 Rgc8, threatening Rc3 and Rxb3+.

A review by Fritz confirms that 30.Re5? was a losing move. Fritz gives the following variation: (-8.73) (21 ply) 30.Re5? Bb5! 31.Qc2 Rgc8 32.Qd1 Rxa2! 33.Rxa2 Bxe5 34.Rd2 Rc3 35.fxe5 Rxb3+, and White must give up his Queen.

Much better at move 30 for White was either: (-.42) (22 ply) 30.Nxg7 Kxg7 31.Qe3 Rgc8, or (-.37) (22 ply) 30.Red1 Rgc8 31.Qf3 Kg8 (-.38) (23 ply) 32.Nf6+ Kf8 33.f5 exf5 34.Qxf5 Qe7 35.Nxd5.

Chigorin was of the opinion that 30.Red1 would lead to a win for White, but the above analysis indicates Black retains a small advantage after 30.Red1.

Olland made a clearly losing move in 30.Re5?, and then Wolf missed a clearly winning move, 30...Bb5!.

Wolf played instead 30...Bxe5, after which Black still had a strong advantage.

That day the following position:

click for larger view

was subjected to intense analysis by several masters.

Chigorin noted the judges had declared 31...Rg6 was responsible for Black's loss, and instead Black should have played 31...Bb5, and they gave White's best response as 32.Qc2. It was pointed out to the judges that if 31...Bb5, Olland would probably play 32.Qe3. However, the judges did not review this suggestion, and had merely remarked, <Black had a Bishop to the good, and should therefore win.>

Chigorin writing in Novoe Vremya states, <How difficult it would have been for Black to defend himself is proven by the fact that next day a number of players (among them being Teichmann, Janowsky, and Wolf on Black's side, and Marshall, Tartakover, and others taking White) subjected this position to analyses for some hours, and could come to no decisive conclusion.>

Chigorin stated Wolf was of the opinion that Black's best move, after 31...Bb5 32.Qe3, was 32...Qa5, and if 33.Nf6 Rg6 followed, Wolf believed White could not then play, 34.h5 Rxg5 35.Qxg5, because of 35...Bd3+. Wolf had to admit White could win in this line, if after 35...Bd3+ 36.Kb2, Black played 36...Qxa2? (36...Qa3+ is equal) 37.Kc3.

Chigorin indicated it was agreed the most dangerous move for White, after 31...Bb5 32.Qe3, was 32...Qa3. However, he then gave the response 33.Rc2, and if Black played 33...Rc8, he indicated 34.g6 would win for White.

Chigorin also gave the following line indicating Back could not win by any forcing device: 31...Bb5 32.Qe3 Qa3 33.Qf3 Rg6 34.Nf6 Kg7 35.Nh5+ Kf8 36.Rf2 Qe7 37.Nf6, threatening Qh5, and if 37...Kg7 38.Rg2, followed by h5.

Chigorin then stated, <In any case, whether White sacrifices were sound or not, the judges did not exhaust a single variation.> and later he concluded, <The interest of this game is diminished by the fact Olland unnecessarily sacrificed the exchange, and rendered victory difficult when it was within his grasp. Nevertheless, from every point of view, this game is more engaging than that unfortunate game for which the judges awarded Maroczy the first "brillancy" prize.>

While some of the old analysis is incorrect it is interesting to review the ideas of the old masters and reflect upon how truly complex this game is.

Wolf could win with the move 31...Bb5!. White can try: (-2.57) (22 ply) 32.Qe3 Rac8 33.Kb2 Rc7 34.a3 Qe7 35.Nf6 Ra8 36.b4 Rc4 37.Qb3, and now, (-4.15) (21 ply) 37...Qf8 38.h5 Ra4 39.Rg2 Rcxb4 40.axb4 Rxb4 41.g6 Rxb3+, or (-2.97) (22 ply) 32.Qf3 Rg7 33.Rd1 Qa5! (stronger than 33...Qa3 as given in my post of 01/11/08) 34.Qf2 Qc3 35.Nf4 Rc8 36.Qd2, Black now has a choice of several winning moves, one of the best being, (-4.31) (23 ply) 36...Rc6 37.Qg2 Rg8 38.g6 fxg6 39.Qd2 Qxd2 40.Rxd2 Kh7, and Black has a won game in either line.

Wolf then gave up most of his advantage with the move 31...Rg6?. Regarding this move, the 2007 edition of the tournament book states: <after the move played, Black's rook gets tied up on the kingside and his winning chances are diminished>.

Instead of playing 33.Qe3, White erred and played 33.Qc2?

Fritz indicates Black can now win by playing: (-1.68) (22 ply) 33...Bc4! 34.h5 Bxb3 35.axb3 Qa5 36.Qa2 Qxa2+ 37.Rxa2 Rxa2 38.hxg6 Rg2 39.gxf7 Kg7 40.Ne8+ Kxf7 41.Nd6+ Ke7.

The tournament book noted that someone had recommended 33...Kg7 for Black. The tournament book pointed out this recommendation was incorrect due to: 33...Kg7? 34 h5 Rxf6 35.exf6+!, and White will win.

However, Wolf missed the correct continuation. Instead of playing the winning 33...Bc4!, he instead played 33...Qf8?, which gave up most of Black's advantage. Fritz indicates the following evaluation: (-.58) (22 ply) 33...Qf8? 34.Qd1 Rxf6 35.exf6 Qh6 36.Rg2 Rg8 37.Rxg8+ Kxg8. Black still has an advantage in this line, but it is not clear if it is adequate for a win.

Black's best reply to 35.Qd1 was 35...Kg7, with an equal position. After 35...Kg7, White should take the perpetual check with: 36.Nh5+ Kh7 37.Nf6+ Kg7.

Far more complicated, but still leading to an equal position is: 35...Kg7 36.Qd2 Qa3 37.Rg3 Kf8 38.h5 Rg7 39.Rc3.

At this point, Black has at least four moves that lead to equality: (.00) (24 ply) 39...Rxc3 40.Qxc3 Bc6 41.Qd2 Rg8 42.g6 Rh8 43.Qf2 fxg6 44.Ne4+ Kg8 45.Nd6 Rxh5 46.Qf7+ Kh8 47.Qf6+; (.00) (24 ply) 39...Bc6 40.g6 Ra8 41.Rc2 Bb5 42.Ka1 Ke7 43.Qg5 Bc6 44.Rf2 Rh8 45.Ne4+ Kd7; (.00) (24 ply) 39...Rc6 40.Rg3 Ra6 41.h6 Rg6 42.Rc3 Ra8 43.Rc7 b6 44.Qc2 Bd3+ 45.Qxd3 Qxa2+ 46.Kc1 Qf2; (.00) (24 ply) 39...Ra8 40.h6 Rg6 41.Rc7 b6 42.Qc2 Bd3 43.Qxd3 Qxa2+ 44.Kc1 Qf2.

Black would get the advantage after 35...Kg7, if White tried: (-.83) (24 ply) 36.h5 Qb4 37.Rc2 Rxc2 38.Qxc2 Qxd4 39.h6+ Rxh6+ 40.gxh6+ Kxh6 41.Qh2+ Kg5.

Instead of 35...Kg7 with equality, Black played the disastrous 35...Rxf6??. After 36.gxf6 Qh6 37.Rg5 Rc3?, (Black is lost, but could survive longer with 37...Bd3+ 38.Qxd3 Qxh4 39.Qd2), 38.Kb2 (not 38.Rh5, due to 38...Rc1+) 38...Rd3 39.Qc1!.