Nemo propheta in patria

Gerolamo Tassinari – Jean Adolphe de la Roche
Paris, 1855
Sicilian Defence B21

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. Nf3. Staunton’s “Handbook” recommended 3. Qxd4. Tassinari prefers the much stronger Morphy’s move. 3. ... e5 4. Bc4 Qc7 5. Bb3 Nf6 6. 0-0 h6? “A loss of time. 6. ... Be7 is likely to be preferable”, observes the Schachzeitung, August 1855, page 256. 7. c3! Thematic and powerful! 7. ... dxc3 8. Nxc3 a6 9. Be3 d6. Oblivious to the imminent disaster. 10. Rc1. Sic et simpliciter. Henceforth it’s just a matter of technique; nevertheless the demolition of the enemy position by Tassinari is impressive. 10. ... Qd8 11. Nd5! It was not bad either 11. Nxe5, but Tassinari prefers to tighten the grip. 11. ... Nxd5 12. Qxd5 Be6 13. Qxb7 Nd7 14. Bxe6 fxe6

15. Rc7 Rb8 16. Qc6. Black is in Zugzwang. 16. ... g5 17. Ba7. A last finesse. 17. ... Ra8 18. Rxd7 Qxd7 19. Qxa8+ Kf7 20. Bb6 Qb5 21. Qa7+ Be7 22. b3 Qc6 23. h3 Rc8 24. Ba5 Qxe4 25. Qxa6 Rc2 26. Re1 Qf5 27. Bb6 g4 28. hxg4 Qxg4 29. Rxe5 Qb4 30. Re1 Rc6 31. Qe2 e5 32. Be3 Rc8 33. Rc1 1 : 0. A beautiful little game! As usual, the partie was played at the Café de la Régence.