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Georg Marco vs Siegbert Tarrasch
Monte Carlo (1902), Monte Carlo MNC, rd 12, Feb-21
Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian. Open (B32)  ·  1/2-1/2

8
7
6
5
4
3
2
a
1
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
White to move.
ANALYSIS [x]
1/2-1/2

rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1
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Kibitzer's Corner
Nov-08-22
Premium Chessgames Member
  KEG: Tarrasch owned Marco for much of their respective careers. This was their eighth meeting, and their first draw. Tarrasch had won six of the earlier seven games, and that seems to have affected Marco here. Tarrasch tried something in the opening that looked loony,but most likely he was hoping Marco would overextend himself, being confident that he could outplay Marco if things got tough. Since Marco repeatedly back off, a short draw was the result. When the game was replayed five days later with colors reversed, Marco got crushed. But under the rules in effect at this tournament, Marco received 1/4 of a point for his efforts, and Tarrasch got 3/4ths of a point.

1. e4 c5

Announcing from the get-go that he was playing for a win.

2. Nf3 Nc6
3. d4 cxd4
4. Nxd4 Nf6
5. Nc3 a6


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While certainly playable, this is not a true Najdorf since Tarrasch had played 2...Nc6 instead of 2...d6.

6. NxN

Though denounced as inferior by the Tournament Book, there is nothing all that wrong with the text. It was later played by such luminaries as Botvinnik and Spassky.

6... bxN?

6...dxN, though allowing 7. QxQ+, was surely better. Black now gets an ugly looking game. But I am confident that Tarrasch knew what he was doing. He didn't want to give his regular "customer" Marco an easy draw.

7. e5

The best way to punish Black's temerity in playing 6...bxN.

7... Ng8

Best, but leaving Black a nearly laughable position:


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I cannot believe Tarrasch would have let himself get into such a cramped formation against a Lasker or a Pillsbury.

8. Bc4 d5

Seeking active play despite the obvious weaknesses created.

9. exd6 e.p. exd6


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While Black is by no means lost, White could put him through the ringer with 10. Qe2+ followed by 11. Ne4. But Marco, appropriately frightened by his famous opponent, sought safety first:

10. 0-0 d5

A rare case in which Black can play a freeing d5 twice in the opening. But here 10...Nf6 was probably best, because the position now presented strong possibilities for White:


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11. Bb3

Again declining to enter any complications against the dreaded Tarrasch. The Tournament Book recommended 11. Bd3, but that is even tamer than the text. The crucial line is 11. Nxd5! after which White should emerge with by far the better game, e.g., 11...cxN 12. Bxd5 Be6 [12...Ra7 13. Qd4, though perhaps playable, would be no fun for Black] 13. Bc6+ [a neat intermediate move] Bd7 14. BxQ QxB leaving White with Rook and two pawns for two minor pieces and the better developed game. Marco could also have played 11. Re1+ and then 12. Nxd5.

11... Bc5

Marco's unimaginative and unenterprising play left Tarrasch with the chance to begin developing his pieces pretty much unmolested.

12. Na4 Bd6

12...Ba7 or 12...Be7 were probably theoretically superior to the text, but Tarrasch may still have been playing head games with Marco, the position after 12...Bd6 now being:


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Objectively, Marco should now have been forcing the action. But, as will be seen, he preferred to play it safe and avoid any complications in which Tarrasch's superior tactical and positional skills could have been brought to bear.

All this made for a less than interesting game.

Nov-10-22
Premium Chessgames Member
  KEG: Post II

13. Be3

Had Marco been trying to win, 13. Qd4 (followed by 14. Nb6) would seem indicated. But he was playing for a draw and settled for the text (though he did play Qd4 in less favorable circumstances on move 15).

13... Nf6

Meanwhile, Tarrasch went about developing his pieces.

14. Bc5

Another puny effort by Marco. 14. Bb6 was much stronger.

14... 0-0


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Now Marco's only edge was his c and d pawns; almost certainly insufficient for winning chances.

15. Qd4 Qc7

Tarrasch would have had near equality with 15...Re8 or 15...Be6. But it appears he was still itching for complications and a fight.

16. BxB QxB


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17. f3

Not a a mistake, but also not a way for White to make progress. 17. c4 was probably best.

17... Rb8

Still looking for counter-play rather than safety first.

18. Rad1 Be6
19. c4

Finally. The only way for White to play for an edge.

19... Rfd8
20. cxd5 cxd5


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So now Tarrasch had an isolated d-pawn. But Tarrasch knew more than a bit about handling such positions, and Marco from here was unable to make any significant progress.

21. Rf2 Rb4
22. Qc5 Qb8
23. Rfd2 Rc8
24. Qf2 h6
25. Rd4

Offering a Rook trade that would not have done much for White even had Tarrasch cooperated.

25... Rc7

Not interested (unless White wanted to initiate).

26. Nc3 Kh8
27. Rad2


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The score ends here. The Tournament Book reports that the record of the remaining moves was "indecipherable.

In any case, and as had been becoming apparent, the players ultimately agreed to a draw.

DRAWN.

Tarrasch won the replay (in which he had White) five days later.

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