The Mingrelia Defence

The Mingrelia Defence

The Mingrelia Defence
Newark Sunday Call, July 2, 1893

From Steinitz’ chess column in New York Daily Tribune, June 18, 1893:
A stoutly contested and elegantly finished game played recently in the Caucasus by His Serene Highness Prince Dadian of Mingrelia.

A. de Smitten – The Prince of Mingrelia
Russia 1893
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Qf6

Unusual and with good reason, as Black’s defence ought to become troublesome after this venture.
4.Nc3
4.c3 with the view of forming a centre is also good. Should Black reply 4…Bc5 the game might proceed: 5.d4 exd4 6.e5 and if 6…Nxe5 7.Qe2 dxc3 8.Qxe5+ Qxe5+ 9.Nxe5 Bd4 10.Nd3 and Black’s three pawns for the piece are not of great account so early in the game.
4…Nge7 5.d3 h6 6.Nb5
It was probably better to hold this move in reserve and to develop 6.Be3 with the option of a centre attack by d4.
6…Kd8 7.Be3 a6 8.Nc3 g5 9.Qd2
The last opportunity is here missed of opening the d-file by 9.d4 which would have given White a good game in several aspects.
9…Bg7 10.0-0-0
In view of the cramped position into which he is driven by the strength of the opponents next two moves, this was clearly incautious. 10.Nd5 with the likely continuation 10…Nxd5 11.exd5 Nd4 12.Nxg5 Nxc2+ 13.Qxc2 hxg5 14.0-0-0 was more in his favor.
10…g4 11.Ng1 Nd4 12.Re1 b5 13.Bb3 Rf8
It was necessary to protect the f-pawn in order to relieve the queen for operations on the queenside.
14.Nce2 Qb6 15.Bxd4 exd4 16.f4 a5 17.a4
No better choice was 17.a3 a4 18.Ba2 Nc6 followed by b4.
17…bxa4 18.Bxa4 Rb8 19.b3 c5 20.Ng3
The diversion on the kingside which is here tried on has no effect. 20.h3 was more likely to relieve him, and for defensive purposes he should have held in view Kd1 followed by Nc1.
20…Ba6 21.Qf2 Qb4 22.e5
He is outwitted in his scheme by his sharp sighted opponent. Had he calculated far enough he would have kept guard against Black’s next move.
22…Nd5 23.Nh5 Nc3 24.Qh4+ Kc7 25.Nxg7 Nxa4 26.Ne2
26.bxa4 Bxd3 27.cxd3 Qa3+ 28.Kd1 Qxd3+ followed by Rb1 mate.
26…Qa3+
Black could have won here by 26…Bxd3 and if 27.cxd3 Qxb3 28.Kd2 Qa2+ 29.Kd1 Rb1+ 30.Nc1 Nc3 mate.
27.Kd2 Rxb3
Brilliancy characteristic of Prince Dadian’s well-known style follows here in sequence.
28.Nc1

28…Rxd3+
[An] elegant coup.
29.Nxd3 Qc3+
Good enough for victory, of course, but still more effective was simply 29…Bxd3 with the probable sequence 30.Qf2 Qc3+ 31.Kd1 best (If 31.Kc1 Qb2+ and mate in two moves.) 31…Rb8 and wins.
30.Ke2 Qxc2+ 31.Kf1 Bxd3+ 32.Kg1 Be4 33.Qg3 Nc3 34.Resigns


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