Once in a Lifetime

Serafino Dubois – Max Killmann
Rome, March, 1858
Owen Defence B00

Daniel Willard Fiske, The Chess Monthly, Vol. III, 1859, pp. 254-255.

1. e4 b6. This opening is styled by the Italians Fianchetto di Donna, and may sometimes be adopted against players unacquainted with its general nature. But against opponents, who, like Mr. Dubois, understand how to avail themselves of the advantages which such a début places at their command, it must eventuate in giving an inferior game to the second player. Nevertheless, for the sake of variety, it may occasionally be ventured; but those who habitually employ this and other close games are generally found to be deficient in those qualities of invention and imagination which are the highest attributes of the true chessplayer. Such great players as Philidor, [de la] Bourdonnais, and M’Donnell seldom indulged in a contest of this kind. 2. d4 Bb7 3. Bd3 e6 4. c4. At this point we prefer 4. Nh3. 4. ... Bb4+ 5. Nc3 Ne7 6. Nf3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 d6 8. 0-0 Nd7 9. Ng5 h6 10. Qh5 0-0 11. f4!?? e5? Ed. Note: The soundness of White’s hazardous sacrifice is seriously challenged by 11. ... hxg5 12. fxg5 Qe8 (Δ ... f7-f5). 12. fxe5 hxg5 13. exd6 cxd6 14. e5!? g6 15. Qh6 dxe5 16. Bxg5. Ed. Note: With the threat of 17. dxe5 Nxe5?? 18. Bf6. 16. ... e4 17. Rf4! f6. Ed. Note: Possibly better could be 17. ... f5!? (Bertola). 18. Rh4 Kf7 19. Qh7+ Ke8 20. Bxe4 Bxe4 21. Rxe4 fxg5. Ed. Note: Equally hopeless is 21. ... Rf7 22. Qg8+ Nf8 23. Bh6 followed by Ra1-e1 with an overwhelming attack. 22. Qxg6+ Rf7 23. Rf1 Nf8 24. Qxf7+ Kd7 25. Rfe1 Ng6 26. c5 Qf8 27. Qe6+ Kc7 28. Qd6+ Kb7 29. Rxe7+ Nxe7 30. Rxe7+ Ka6

31. Rxa7+! And Mr. Killmann resigns. From the moment that Mr. Dubois commences his attack he conducts it with great vigor and elegance to the end. 1 : 0. This fine unpublished game was played at Rome, in March, 1858. (Daniel Willard Fiske, The Chess Monthly, Vol. III, 1859, pp. 254-255).