It was said of this game that back in the mid-1800s it might have been hailed as an immortal game because sacrificial play triumphed. Jump forward to the mid-1900s when it was played and it was recognized that white’s triumph was only the result of his opponent’s feeble defense. Moving even further forward to the days of Stockfish we find the play of both players was pretty feeble. Nevertheless, it’s a fun game to play over.
The game was played in an unknown tournament in an unknown city in Ohio. The names of the players are known, but they are not, if you know what I mean. The 1951 USCF rating list did not have a rating for Wetman, but there was an R. Schaeffer from Ohio listed with a rating of 1611.
M. Wetman–R. Schaeffer1–0A03Ohio1949Stockfish 16
A03: Bird's Opening 1.f4 The Bird is rare and has little theory and it
does offer white some attacking chances. d5 After this the game can become a
reversed version of the Dutch Defense, but not in this game. 2.e3 c6
More ususal are either 2...Nf6 or 2...c5 3.b5 d7 4.f3 f6 5.b3 e6 5...g6 6.b2 g7 7.0-0 0-0 8.xc6 xc6 9.e5 equals. Silva,M (2207)-D'Arruda,
R (2271) chess.com INT 2022 6.b2 a6 7.xc6 xc6 8.d3 8.e5 c5 9.xc6 bxc6 10.0-0 equals. Vahtra,T-Kaniak,M Budva 2003 8.0-0 d6 9.d3 e7 10.bd2 0-0-0 11.e5 equals. Merle, S-Geronimi,P (1708) Calvi 2007 8...c5 9.e2 0-0 10.e5 b5 Better was the immediate 10...Be8. The text allows white
to gain a tempo. 11.a4 e8! 12.d2 d7 13.0-0 f6 14.ef3 h5 15.d4
Apparently white wanted to prevent ...e5, but 15.h3 would have allowed him to
met 15...e5 with 16.g4 and play on the K-side. d6 16.c4 b6 17.e1 e8 18.h4 h8 19.e4 g8 This move eventually causes black a lot of problems
because his K gets trapped on h8. He can keep things even with 19...Bb4 19...b4 20.cxd5 exd5 21.e5 fxe5 22.dxe5 g6 offers equal chances. 20.g4 20.cxd5 offers excellent chances. exd5 21.e5 g5 22.f2 e7 23.f5 c8 24.ac1 c5 25.exf6 xf6 26.fe1 d8 27.e5 with a promising position. 20...f7 21.e5± g5 22.fxg5 fxe5 23.xe5 White would have done better
to keep the N and play instead 23.dxe5 xe5 24.dxe5 c5+ 25.g2 dxc4 26.xc4 d8 27.ad1 This move attacking the Q is quite logical
looking, but it is seriously flawed. Instead, white missed a nice tactical
shot. 27.d6 Instead of this he could have also played it safe with the
benign 27.Qg3 cxd6 28.g6 xg6 29.f6+ g7 30.exd6 g8 31.ad1 The
position is rife with complications, but the chances are equal. Shootouts were
Inconclusive! White scored +1 -1 =3 27...c6+ 27...xd1 is an alternative that is equally good. 28.xd1 c6+ 29.g3 and only now g6 30.f1 d8 31.f3 31.d6 cxd6 32.exd6+ g8 leaves white with a lost position.
31...d1 The Rs penetration is decisive. 32.e3 g1+ 33.g2 e4 34.h3 e1+ 35.f4 d2+ 28.g3 g6 Questionable play on both sides has brought
about a unique position in which both Kings are insecurely posted. White is
the first to take advantage of the situation. 28...xd1 practically
secures the win. 29.xd1 e4 and it's white who is in serious difficulties. 30.g6 xg6 31.h3 g7 32.c1 c2 33.f1 xb3+ wins 29.d6 cxd6 Black
is much too obliging! 29...df8 30.h3 e3 31.g2 xg2+ 32.xg2 xf1 33.xf1 d8 33...cxd6 34.exd6+ d4 35.xd4+ e5 36.xe5+ g7 37.f8# 34.f3 c5 35.f7+ xf7 36.xf7 d2+ with a decisive advantage. 30.exd6+ g7
This is a very tricky position! 31.h6 31.xg7+ looks reasonable, but it
would be a mistake. xg7 32.h6+ g8 and white is out of plausible moves. 33.h3 xd6+ 34.h4 c2 35.b4 b2 36.b5 axb5 37.axb5 d7 Much better
than taking the b-Pawn. 37...xb5 38.e3 f7 39.f2 e8 40.xb6 38.f6 f4 39.xf4 39.xd7 f2+ 39...xd1 and black is clearly winning. 31.h3 is his only defense. After g8 32.e1 xd6 33.e5 c7 and the
position is even. 31...xd6+ 32.h4 dg8 33.d2 This prevents ...Qg2 c7 Missing his chance to strike at the exposed white K. Black drifts into the
main line of his opponent's tactical idea. 33...e5 34.f6 e4 35.dxd6 e2 The threat of mate (...Qxh2#) is too much to handle. 36.d2 xd2 37.xe5
h2 is covered, but... e1+ 38.g3 e2 White is out of reasonable moves. 34.c1 Once again we are back to equal chances...if black plays his cards
right. b8 ...which he does not! Instead, he commits suicide. 34...f7 35.xg7+ xg7 36.c8+ f8 37.dd8 f2+ 38.h3 f1+ draws 35.xd6 Decisive. xd6 The threat is mate with ...Qxh2 36.xg7+
The right way. 36.xg7+ is the wrong way. xg7 37.c8+ g8 Black wins. 36...xg7 37.c8+ Black resigned. A see-saw battle that's typical of most
non-master games. 1–0
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