Annotated chess game: A most unusual game!

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ANNOTATED GAME

A most unusual game!
Leo "Forgacs" Fleischmann vs. Geza Maroczy
Annotated by: last_archimedean

(1564)
Chess opening: St. George (Baker) defence (B00)

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This game was played in a 1902 tournament in Budapest. In the first 13 moves, Maroczy sacrificed his Queen, won Forgacs' Queen Rook, and promoted a Pawn to new Queen. In the spirit of "whatever you can do, I can do better" it took Forgacs just eight moves after that to duplicate the feat -- sacrificing his Queen, promoting a Pawn to new Queen, and winning Maroczy's Queen Rook!

1. e4 a6	Maroczy plays a most unusual response to Forgacs' opening thrust.



2. d4 e6	Maroczy plays a delayed French defense.



3. f4 d5 4. e5 c5 5. c3 b5	Maroczy intends to apply pressure to Forgacs' pawn chain and break it.



6. Bd3 Nc6 7. Nf3 Bd7 8. Be3 Nh6	Both players begin developing their pieces after the flurry of initial Pawn moves.



9. dxc5 b4 10. Nd4 Qa5	Trying to pressure Forgacs' Q-side, where Maroczy has a spatial edge. Forgacs' play should lie on the K-side with this Pawn formation.



11. a3 bxc3 12. Nxc6 cxb2+ 13. Nxa5 bxa1=Q	Maroczy has accomplished his triplet of achievements. Now it is Forgacs' turn.



14. c6 Bc8	The only square.



15. Qa4 Nf5	Countering the threat of discovered check with an attack on the B.



16. Ba7 Bxa3	Seizing the loose pawn and creating a passed QRP.



17. c7+ Bd7	Threatening Forgacs' Q. but the Hungarian master is unafraid.



18. Bb8 Bxa4	Setting up what's almost like an exchange of Queens, except that instead of both Queens being captured, the taken Queen reincarnates.



19. c8=Q+ Ke7	Forced.



20. Qb7+ Kf8	Allowing the B to interpose if Forgacs' Q checks on the 8th rank.
	1 comment black_cat_hamlet (1531) on 12-Feb-11: White goes for the a8 rook to keep his queen active by the look of things


21. Qxa8 Bb4+	Now that both sides have finished their remarkable achievements, Maroczy plays to swarm Forgacs' position for the win.
	1 comment charlbroiled (1200) on 12-Feb-11: 21. Qxa8 ? Hard to believe that this is the losing move.


22. Kf1 g5	Making air for his King.



23. Bc7+ Kg7	Placing his King in a safe haven, and allowing him to launch the final attack.



24. Qxa6 Qb2	Looking for a "skewer" to win the Rook.
	1 comment nuntar (1702) on 12-Feb-11: Black is looking for more than that: 25... N-K6ch 26. K-N1 QxP mate. If instead Black takes the rook, White has perpetual via 27. BxN PxB 28. Q-B6ch K-N1 29. QxNPch etc.


25. Bb6 Qc1+	The winning move.



26. Kf2 Qxh1	With decisive material gain.
	1 comment nuntar (1702) on 12-Feb-11: Note that White's B-N6 (necessary to prevent the mating line I mentioned earlier) has also prevented White's perpetual by blocking the Queen's path to KB6.


27. Bf1 Qxh2	Forgacs resigns.
	2 comments black_cat_hamlet (1531) on 12-Feb-11: Definitely a brilliat game! damalfi (1200) on 13-Feb-11: Crazy!!!! I would like to submit it to Fritz... Give please more data: when, where... if you play.