Ossip Bernstein vs Akiba Rubinstein - Vilnius All-Russian Masters 1912.08.31

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Ossip Bernstein vs Akiba Rubinstein
Vilnius All-Russian Masters Vilna (Vilnius) RUE round 9 1912.08.31
Four Knights Game: Bardeleben Variation 1/2-1/2

[Event "Vilnius All-Russian Masters"]
[Site "Vilna (Vilnius) RUE"]
[Date "1912.08.31"]
[EventDate "1912.08.19"]
[Round "9"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[White "Ossip Bernstein"]
[Black "Akiba Rubinstein"]
[ECO "C48"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "44"]

1.e4 {Notes by Akiba Rubinstein from " Novoe Vremya" 1912,
which were translated and published in the August 1912 issue
of the "American Chess Bulletin".} e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6
4.Bb5 Nd4 {This little-known defense makes the game
complicated and avoids the overworked variations of the Four
Knights' opening. Whether the move be correct, the future will
decide. Opposed to it is the principle that no piece should be
moved twice in the opening without real need.} 5.Bc4 {The
retreat to a4 would keep the queen pawn pinned only
temporarily; therefore the bishop takes up a more aggressive
position at c4, threatening the points d5 and f7.} Bc5 6.Nxe5
Qe7 7.Nf3 d5 8.Bxd5 Bg4 9.d3 {If White also captures the b7
pawn, he will have to face a still livelier attack.} c6 10.Bb3
Nd7 11.Bg5 {In this dangerous position Bernstein finds the
best plan of defense; the white king flees to the queen's wing
and Black's onslaught comes to an end. Every other move would
lose; for instance: 11.h3 Bxf3 12.gxf3 Qh4 13.Rf1 Ne5 and
wins. Or 11.Be3 Ne5 12.Bxd4 Bxd4, and White has no defense
against the threat of 13...Qf6.} Qd6 12.Nb1 Qg6 {Also 12...Ne5
came under consideration.} 13.Be3 Bxf3 14.gxf3 Qg2 15.Kd2
Nxf3+ 16.Kc1 Rd8 17.h3 Bxe3+ 18.fxe3 Nde5 19.Qf1 Qg5 20.Qe2
{Not 20.Qf2 because of 20...Rxd3.} Nd4 21.Qd2 Ndf3 22.Qe2 Nd4
{After 23.Qf2 (or 23.Qe1) would follow 23...Nxb3 24.axb3 Rxd3,
etc.} 1/2-1/2

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Updated: 23 January, 2022
Created: 23 January, 2022