A Mieses Classic

     Back in the good old days it seems sacrifices were played instinctively and the “combinations” as tactics were called then were, if mot sound, always exciting and sensational. 

     In the case of the double Rook sacrifice the principle underlying the sacrifice is simple and fairly well known. It happens when the victim’s King is exposed and he removes his Queen from the action by grabbing both Rooks that are sitting on the 1st or 8th rank. 

     This Craddock—Mieses game is a good example. Craddicj grabs both Rooks which puts his Queen is out of the game on h8. Mieses’ Queen on the other hand is poised to end the game quickly. 

     James M. Craddock 1913-2001) was the under-18 British Champion in 1929, 1930 and 1931 and played top board for Cambridge in his college days. He played for the National Liberal Chess Circle. 

     Jacques Mieses (1865-1954) was born in Leipzig. He won the chess championship of Berlin at the age of 17 and was a professional player. In 1938 Mieses settled in England and became a British citizen. He was awarded the Grandmaster title in 1950. 

ChessBase

James Craddock–Jacques Mieses0–1A25Club game, London1939Stockfish 16

[%evp 9,28,-26,39,30,81,6,48,40,50,-4,-19,-290,-297,-612,-618,-29994,-29995, -29997,-29998,-29998,-29999] A25: English Opening 1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.g3 f6 4.g2 b4 5.e3 At this point white has played just about every reasonable move you can think of, but the most popular by far is 5.Nf3 d6 6.ge2 g4 This is not particularly effective. Simply 6...O-O was more precie. 7.b3 This gets out of the pin and threatens 8...Bxc6+ 7.h3 is better. e6 8.d5 a5 9.a3 b6 10.ec3 0-0 11.b4 with a favorable game. 7...b8 Or 7...O-O 8.d5 c5 Now the reason for black's odd looking last move is clear. 9.xf6+ He could still have played 9.h3. The text is not really bad, but as it turns out white is barking up the wrong tree. xf6 This move contains a trap which Craddock fails to fathom. 9...gxf6 This may have been what white was anticipating and it gives him a good game after 10.h3 e6 11.0-0 and he can hope to take advantage of black's compromised K-side. 10.xc6+ After this white falls victim to a quick attack. 10.c3 0-0 11.d5 g6 12.0-0 is completely equal. 12.xc7 would land white in difficulties after f5 13.0-0 13.a3 c2 14.a2 d3 15.b5 d4 16.exd4 exd4 with mate in 5 17.f4 be8+ 18.e4 xe4+ 19.f2 e2+ 20.g1 d3+ 21.d4 xd4# 13...c2 14.b5 14.c3 b4 The Q is trapped. 14...a6 15.xa6 a7 16.a5 bxa6 17.xa6 d3 18.e1 e4 12...e2 13.e1 d3 White's position is cramped, but free of organic weaknesses. 10...bxc6 11.xb8+ Falling victim to the classic double R sacrifice. He could have held out longer by retreating the Q to d1, but hjis position would be pretty ugly. 11.d1 0-0 12.a3 d5 13.b4 e7 14.b2 14.0-0 h3 15.c3 15.e1 f3 16.f4 xd1 17.xd1 exf4 15...xf1 14...f3 15.g1 dxc4 16.c2 c5 11...d7 12.xh8 With the Q out of play black has a mate in 6 12.b3 This attempt to weasel out of difficulty also results in a complete rout. f3 13.d3 xh1+ 14.g1 xg1+ 15.f1 xh2 12...f3 13.d1 13.f1 xe2+ 14.g2 f3+ 15.g1 h3 16.d8+ xd8 mate next move. 13...xe2+ 14.c2 xc4+ White resigned. A real debacle. 14...xc4+ 15.b1 d3# 0–1

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