Rudolph Charousek, playing White in this game, was one of the greatest players never to become world champion. By 1896 (three years after this game was played) at the age of just 22, he had already established himself as a world-class talent. After he beat reigning World Champion Emanuel Lasker effortlessly at a strong tournament that year, Lasker predicted that he would have to play him a match for the world championship some day. Sadly, Charousek was fatally stricken with tuberculosis four years later in the spring of 1900. In this game, 19-year-old Charousek slashes and burns his way through his opponent's position and reminds us why we play chess.
1.e4
e5
2.d4
exd4
3.c3
The Danish Gambit, a swashbuckling opening fraught with wild tactical complications.
3...dxc3
4.Bc4
White is willing to give up two pawns for a huge lead in development. Black's material advantage would stand him well in an endgame...if he ever lived that long.
4...Nf6
Black realizes his danger if he gets greedy and grabs another pawn on b2. So he instead works on pulling even with White in development. This move also hits White's only center pawn, which is unprotected at the moment.
5.Nf3?!
White thumbs his nose at Black and ignores the threat. This is perhaps a little too daring. [Simply 5.Nxc3
would be better.]
5...Bc5?
Black chickens out on taking the pawn, which actually seems perfectly sound. Now White has the opportunity to defend the pawn while regaining another. [5...Nxe4
looks fine for Black after 6.Bxf7+
Kxf7
7.Qd5+
Ke8
8.Qxe4+
Qe7
when Black is a pawn up after the Queen trade.]
6.Nxc3
d6
Freeing the other Bishop.
7.0-0
0-0
8.Ng5
Probing at f7.
8...h6?
This is the wrong reaction. [8...Nc6
is better.]
9.Nxf7!!
Rxf7
10.e5!
Of course Black cannot take because of the pin down the d-file.
10...Ng4
11.e6!
Excelsior! Thanks to his sharp play, White has now thrown Black's position out of balance, forcing him to find an almost miraculous defence in order to maintain equality.
11...Qh4?
Black misses the equalizing combo. Now White is winning. [The game is equal after 11...Rxf2!!
12.e7+
Rf7+!
13.Kh1
Qxe7
14.Bxf7+
Kh8=
]
12.exf7+
Kf8
13.Bf4!
Protecting against mate and freeing the Rook in the corner.
13...Nxf2
14.Qe2!
White allows the discovery and threatens a mate of his own.
14...Ng4+
15.Kh1
Bd7
Protecting the mating square at e8.
16.Rae1!
Piling on the pressure!
16...Nc6??
A natural move to make, but one that loses instantly. [Black is still losing after 16...Ne5
, but this at least avoids mate.]
17.Qe8+!!
Rxe8
18.fxe8Q+
Bxe8
19.Bxd6#
Amazing! White sacrificed his Queen, promoted another, then sacrificed that too! I don't know about you, but I know I've never sacrificed two Queens in a row. 1-0