Reference: Chess Review, December, 1956 page 408.
But he loved the game of chess, too, and Bernstein set up the pieces in the postion which he won by a beautiful combination against that much feared attacking player, David Janoswki.
Mason - Janoswki
Monte Carlo, 1902
It is White to move, and Black is a Pawn down and has a "bad" Bishop. And Janowski was a fighter and is in position to seek counter-chances with his pressure on the Queen Knight file on which White's Knight is pinned. What more natural then that Mason should now exchange Queens and plod along working for more exchanges of the pieces to liquidate into the ending.
But no. With great insight, Mason has planned to sacrifice his Queen, to reach a won ending quickly.
48.Qh8+ Kd7 49.Nd4!
It is the depth of this last move which arouses Bernstein's admiration.
49...Rxb2
As a nice point, if the Knight is accepted (49...Rxd4), then mate follows 50.Rb7+. Of course, if 49...Rxh8 Black is helpless after 50.Rxb4.
50.Qxb8
Beautiful, simple and convincing. The Black Queen cannot escape, while White threatens to do so with check.
50...Rxb8 51.Rxb8 Kc7 52.Nxe6+ Kxb8
The positional point of all the fire-works is now revealed. White has quickly liquidated into the remote, won ending, which seemed so difficult to achieve a few moves ago.
White's Knight, too, fits onto the situation like a glove! Now Mason demonstrates the win.
53.Nd4 Kc7 54.g4 h4 55.c3 Kd7 56.Kg1 Kc7 57.Kf2 Kd7 58.f5 gxf5 59.gxf5 Kc7 60.Ke3 Bg2 61.Nf3 Bxh3 62.Nxh4 Bg4 63.Kf4 Be2 64.Nf3 Bxf3 65.Kxf3 Resigns.
Here is the complete game for your approval:
Wow, two fantastic combination's that deserve to be better known.
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