Flohr becomes determined to castle queenside -- and, as soon as he succeeds with it, the f7 pawn becomes too weak and he's compelled to give up the exchange.

How can you resist not playing 23.Rxc6+ in this position.

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In the game White pulled the Knight back to e2 to hit the f7 pawn.

23.Rxc6+ bxc6 24. Qxc6+ Kb8 25.Nd5

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The board is covered in tactical tricks and traps.

25...Rc8 26.Nxe7 Rxc6 27.Nxc6+ and Nxa5.

25...R(any)e8 26.Nxe7 and 27.Qd6+

25...exd5 26.Bf4 Winning in x number of ways.

The tournament was dedicated to Chigorin's 100th birthday. it was round one, even if you don't win plenty of time to make up and Chigorin's ghostly spirit would have been on your side for the rest of the tournament.

As it was, Tolush went pawn hunting and the game dragged on being one of the last to finish. It was dark when he left the hall and got himself robbed at gun point.

If he had played played 23.Rxc6+ the game would have been over quicker and Tolush would never have been robbed. One cannot help wondering if the ghost of Chigorin (often seen at chess events) had a hand in this.

(Source for the robbery story...page 94. 'Infamous Hold Ups' by Robin Banks.)

Flohr lost an even more spectacular game with this line in the 7th round:-

I suppose we have to give Flohr the benefit of the doubt and say he would have found it. When players have their back to wall they tend to find the only move.

Though having said that his play was not too inspiring up to this point.

(I never saw Ba3 so I'd take the perpetual and a pep-check v Flohr is not too bad.)

Also Tolush probably saw Rxc6+ and knocked it back because he was winning a safe exchange.

But I, having spotted the Nd5 idea would have gone for it.

I know the Boleslavsky vs Flohr, 1950 game because it was pointed out as a reference in a book by Suetin I was flicking though. I then looked for other games Flohr had v this line and stopped at Rxc6+ (never actually played the rest of this game out.)

Good writer on the game Flohr, a wee bit of the Tartakower about him. quite humorous in some notes.