February 01, 1920 Philadelphia Inquirer Chess and Checkers

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Chess 01 Feb 1920, Sun The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) Newspapers.com

The following instructive game we take from the London Field. It was played recently in a match between Middlesex and Essex. The notes are by Amos Burn.

Philip Walsingham Sergeant (white) vs. Ernest John Price (black)
Ruy Lopez: Open, Friess Attack
Submitted to chessgames.com 03/28/2025

Descriptive 1. P-K4 P-K4 2. N-KB3 N-QB3 3. B-N5 P-QR3 4. B-R4 N-B3 5. O-O NxP 6. P-Q4 P-QN4 7. NxP NxN 8. PxN N-B4 9. B-N3 NxB 10. RPxN P-N3 11. Q-B3 P-QB3 12. N-B3 B-QN2 13. N-K4 B-K2 14. B-R6 Q-B2 15. N-Q6ch BxN 16. PxB QxP 17. QR-Q Resigns

Algebraic 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Nxe5 Nxe5 8. dxe5 Nc5 9. Bb3 Nxb3 10. axb3 g6 11. Qf3 c6 12. Nc3 Bb7 13. Ne4 Be7 14. Bh6 Qc7 15. Nd6+ Bxd6 16. exd6 Qxd6 17. Rd1 1-0

(a) An interesting variation of the German player Friess, of Rothenburg. It is inferior to the usual continuation of 7—B-N3, but was played by Mr. Sergeant on the chance of his opponent not knowing the correct defense.
(b) If 7—PxB, then 8—NxN, PxN; 9—R-K sq. winning back the piece and leaving Black with badly doubled Pawns.
(c) And now if 8—PxB White gains a Pawn by 9—Q-Q5, R-QN sq.; 10—QxN, B-N2; 11—QxRP. Instead of the text move, however, Black should have played P-Q4, by which he would have obtained at least an even game, e.g., 8—P-Q4; 9—PxP, e. p., BxP (the move given in the “books” for Black is 9—NxP, but recapturing with the Bishop leads to a quicker development and gives him good winning chances); 10—Q-K2 (if 10—R-K sq., then 10—Castles and the Knight cannot be captured because of 11—BxPch) B-N2; 11—BxP, ch, K-B, sq.; 12—B-Q3, Q-R5; 13—P-KN3, NxNP; 14—BPxN, BxP (threatening R-K sq.); 15—B-K3, B-Q3 (Black might also play 15—BxPch, followed on 16—QxB by 16—Q-N5ch; 17—K-B2, Q-B2, Q-B6ch winning back the Bishop, but retiring the Bishop, gives a more enduring attack); 16—N-Q2, R-K sq.; 17—N-B3, Q to N5ch; 18—K-B2, P-KR4; 19—B-KN sq., Q-R6; 20—R-N2, R-R3, threatening 21—R-B3, with a winning attack. If instead of 11—BxP, ch, White play 11—P-KB3, then 11—Castles; 12. PxN, Q-R5; 13—P-KN), B to B4ch, followed if 14—B-K3 or K moves by 14—QxKP; if 11—B-N3, then 11—Castles and Black has much the better development.
(d) This weakens Black's position on the King's side, but he had a difficult game, and it is difficult to suggest a satisfactory move. If 10—B-N2, then 11—Q-N4, with advantage for White in either case.
(e) Further compromising his position. R-N sq., threatening B-N2 would have been better.
(f) The beginning of the end.
(g) For he could not prevent White from playing Q-B6, after which R-K sq. ch. would have been fatal. A finely played game by Mr. Sergeant.