[Event ""]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1902.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mason, James"]
[Black "Maroczy, Geza"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Openingcode "12"]

{Annotations based on those in The Principles of Chess in Theory and Practice by James Mason.}
1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e3 Nd7 4. Nc3 c6 5. d4 f5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Bd3 Qf6 {THe opening play is on unusual lines; very "strategic," and yet with a view, on each side, to a decisive issue.} 8.
Qc2 Nh6 9. Bd2 Bd6 10. g3 {Preventing further advance of Black King Bishop Pawn, and otherwise a defensive move to go on with—to see what may happen.} Nf8 11. Qa4 Nd7 {Tentative measures, after which things are as they were.  Then the game goes on, the parties Castling on "opposite sides," and a most difficult contest follows.} 12. Qc2 O-O 13. h3 Rf7 14. Be2
Nf8 15. O-O-O b5 16. Rdg1 a5 17. Ne1 {White wants to go forward on the King side; but, for that, as will be seen, Black gives him no time—himself pressing on in attack demanding all attention.} Rc7 18. Nd3 Qe7 19. Kb1 a4 20. Bf3 Nf7
21. Bxd5 {Really defending.  The Bishop is offered for two Pawns, and the exchange (about its full value)—and to get rid of adverse Queen.  But Black does not agree—rather pushing his attack as if nothing had occurred.} b4 22. Bxf7+ Qxf7 23. Nxa4 Rxa4 {Probably best—to keep up the pressure at all hazards.} 24. Qxa4 Ra7 25. Qc2 {If 25. Qxc6? the King would be driven to the Bishop file, and the Queen "pinned"—and lost.} Qxa2+ 26. Kc1
b3 27. Qb1 Qa4 28. Bc3 Be6 29. Kd2 Qb5 30. Qf1 Bc4 31. Qe2 c5 32. Ra1 cxd4
33. exd4 {Here White goes wrong.  The obvious 33. Rxa7 would yield a fairly certain winning advantage.  This fault in defence makes the attack sound, and black should win the game.} Re7 34. Qf3 Bd5 35. Qxf5 g6 36. Qc8 Be4 {Now 36. ... Bb7 would be very strong; for, if 37. Ra6, a Rook would be lost; and if 37. Qg4, then 37. ... Be4 would come in with great effect.  As itis, Black can gain the Knight; but with no practical superiority—the exchange and two Pawns duly considered.} 37. Qa6 Qg5+! 38. f4 Qxg3
39. Rhe1 Bxd3 {Supporting the other Bishop, 39. ... Re6 would leave White almost without remedy.  It would threaten 40. ... Bxf4+, &c., attacking the Queen, while the full force of attack on the King would remain.  Much of White's trouble is from possible mate through combination of Black Pawn at b3 with Queen.  After this capture, such trouble ceases to exist; and, with inferior force, Black is compelled to draw by perpetual check—or lose.} 40. Qxd6 Rxe1 41. Rxe1 Bc4 42. Re8 Qd3+ 43. Ke1 Qf1+ 44. Kd2
Qd3+
1/2-1/2

Download PGN

View game interactively