KEG: The Tournament Book calls this game "an uneventful draw." On the merits of the game, this description is entirely apt. But the back-story is in fact of some note.Draws were re-played at Monte Carlo 1902. Each player received 1/4 point for the initial contest, and the rematch counted 1/2 point (all to the winner or shared 1/4 each in the event of a second draw).
Teichmann had already drawn four of his first six games. He had drawn the re-play of his first round game, but at the time of the instant contest, he had yet to re-play his other three draws. When this game was also drawn, Teichmann now had FOUR draws yet to replay. After the completion of this seventh round, nobody else other than Eisenberg (who after round 7 had two drawn games to replay).had more than one round to replay.
Teichmann ended up fourth. One must wonder whether all these replays (and there were more in store for Teichmann as the tournament progressed, prejudiced his later performance.
Teichmann and Mason seemed to make little effort in this game, which might today be called a "grandmaster draw" (if Mason at this point in his career could be properly called a "grandmaster."
This game was drawn after thirty moves were played. Under the rules of the tournament at this point, games could not be drawn in under thirty moves. Thus, when Teichmann and Mason squared off to replay this game nearly two weeks later, they sought permission to agree to a draw after 24 moves. But--under the rules--this was not permitted, and the replay lasted 35 moves before the game was officially drawn. (The score for the re-play does not seem to be available).
The replay rule eventually was deemed noxious, and in the last couple of rounds (Rounds 20 and 21) at least eight games were drawn by agreement without a single move being played. For better or worse, Teichmann, who was battling with Janowski for 3rd place, was not a participant in any of these games, and one must wonder whether his 21st round loss to Janowski (which knocked him back to 4th place) had anything to do with the ELEVEN games he drew in the tournaments 21 rounds (there were two byes for each player).
In all, Teichmann played 26 games at Monte Carlo 1902, while--for example--Marshall played 21 and Janowski played 22. First prize winner, Maroczy, only played 22 games. The unfairness of this situation may explain why--at Monte Carlo 1903--the replay rule was no longer used.
In analyzing the game, I will play it straight and ignore the fact that the game--like its replay--may have been a pre-arranged draw.
1. c4 e6
2. Nf3 d5
3. e3
A sound but certainly not a vigorous line as White.
3... Nf6
4. d4
So now we have a Queen's Gambit.
4... c5
And a Tarrasch.
5. Nc3 Nc6
6. a3
A popular variation at the time that had been played earlier in the Tournament by Schlechter in his loss to Pillsbury when he later hung his Queen on move 23.
6... cxd4
7. exd4 dxc4
This move, which was played by Pillsbury in the above-cited game, allows White to avoid losing a tempo, but leaves White with an isolated Queen's pawn, leaving the age-old question of whether this is a strength or a weakness.
8.Bxc4
8... Be7
Pillsbury here played the somewhat better 8...Bd6, which prevents White's 9. Bf4 (a move that--in any case--Mason did not opt to play in this game).
9. 0-0 0-0
10. Be3
10. Bf4 or 10. Re1 might be marginally stronger here.
10... a6
A novelty at the time. It was later played by Korchnoi, Flohr and by Donner (twice).
11. Rc1 b5
Thus far, there was little to suggest that a draw was likely.
Kibitzing
