[Event "Berlin"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Blackburne"] [Black "Charousek"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D02"] [Opening "Queen's Pawn: 2.Nf3 e6"] {3. BLACKBURNE (1842-1921) Blackburne had an unprententious style, but was nevertheless a very remarkable player. One of his great assets was an incredible skill in spotting opportunities which seem to be more or less accidental. Add to this the fact that he possessed an iron nerve and we have the dreaded "natural player". Blackburne played many brilliant games. As a positional player, however, he is not to be ranked with Steinitz or Tarrasch} 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bf4 Bd6 4. Bxd6 {Unpretentious, but in Blackburne's "natural" style. A Rubinstein would certainly have played 4. Pe3} (4. e3) 4... Qxd6 5. Nbd2 Nf6 6. c3 Nbd7 7. Qc2 e5 8. e3 O-O 9. dxe5 Nxe5 10. Be2 { He should have traded Knights first} (10. Nxe5) 10... Bg4 11. h3 Bh5 12. Nxe5 { Practically forced, otherwise Black will play 12. ... Pg6} 12... Bxe2 $1 13. Nef3 (13. Nxf7 {White could win a pawn} 13... Qa6 { Black would have more than enough compensation}) 13... Qa6 14. Nb3 Bd3 15. Qd1 b6 16. Nc1 Bc4 $1 {The incisive way to continue the attack} (16... Bg6 17. Qe2 {White would be out of difficulties}) 17. Ne5 (17. b3 Qa5 $1 18. Qd2 Ba6 { keeping up the pressure}) 17... Rad8 18. Qc2 Qb7 19. Ne2 Rfe8 20. Nxc4 dxc4 21. O-O Qe4 22. Qxe4 Nxe4 23. Rfd1 g5 (23... c5 $1 {Reti} 24. Nf4 Nd2 $1 { White's position is in a terrible bind}) 24. Nd4 Rd5 25. Nf3 Rd3 (25... Red8 26. Rd4 $1) 26. Ne1 Rdd8 27. Nf3 c5 28. Kf1 b5 29. a3 a5 30. Ke2 b4 {White's po sition looks critical, but this was where Blackburne displays remarkable resourcefulness} 31. axb4 axb4 32. Rxd8 Rxd8 33. cxb4 c3 $1 (33... cxb4 { White obtains the d4 square}) 34. bxc3 Nxc3+ 35. Ke1 cxb4 36. Nd4 Rb8 37. Nb3 Kg7 38. Ra6 h5 39. g3 Rc8 40. Nd4 Rc5 41. Ra7 Kg6 42. Rb7 Ra5 43. Rxb4 Ra1+ 44. Kd2 Ne4+ 45. Ke2 Ra2+ 46. Kf3 Nxf2 47. Rb6+ f6 48. g4 $1 (48. h4 g4+ 49. Kf4 Nh1 $19) 48... h4 49. Rb7 Nxh3 50. Ne6 $1 (50. Nf5 Ng1+ 51. Ke4 Ra4+ $19) 50... Ng1+ 51. Ke4 Ra4+ 52. Kd3 Ra8 (52... -- 53. Nf8+ Kh6 54. Rh7#) (52... Rxg4 53. Nf8+ Kf5 54. Rb5#) 53. Rg7+ Kh6 54. Rf7 Rg8 55. Rxf6+ Rg6 56. Rf1 $1 { A narrow escape, but a very praiseworthy piece of work by White} 1-0