1. Nf3 Nf6 2. d4 d6 3. e3 Bg4 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. c4 e5 6. d5 Nb8

[RR 6... e4 would have been objectively better but after 7. Bxe4 Nxe4 8. dxc6 bxc6 the resulting position would provide less opportunity for Mason, already one game down, to win the game and match.]

7. Nc3 Nbd7 8. h3 Bxf3 9. Qxf3 Nc5 10. Bc2 Be7 11. h4 O-O 12. b4 Ncd7

[RR Again here the obvious 12... Nfe4 would be best in normal circumstances but after 13. Qh5 g6 14. Qh6 Nxc3 (or 14... Nxf2) Guest could have claimed a draw with 15. Bxg6 hxg6 16. Qxg6+ and a perpetual check.]

13. h5 Nb6 14. g4 Nfxd5 15. Qe4 Nf6 16. Qd3 d5 17. cxd5 Bxb4 18. Bd2 Bxc3 19. Bxc3 e4 20. Qf1

[RR A strange move. The straightforward 20. Qd4 would have been much better.]

20... Nfxd5 21. O-O-O Qe7 22. Bb3 Qc5 23. Qe1 a5 24. a4 Rad8 25. Kb2 Nc4+ 26. Kb1 b5 27. Bxc4 bxc4 28. Bd4 Qa3 29. Qxa5

Abandoning her consort to his fate. White had, however, no saving move; if 29. Rd2 then 29... Rb8+ 30. Rb2 c3.

29... Rb8+ 30. Kc2 Rxf2+

Hastily played: Black mates in two moves with 30... Qa2+ 31. Kc1 (or 31. Bb2 Qxb2#) 31... Rb1# mates.

31. Rd2 Qd3+

[RR As the prosaic 31... Qb3+ also works, perhaps Mason chose this flashy finish for the onlookers instead of the annotator's mate in two.]

32. Kc1 Rb1#

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Source(s): Chess Monthly, vol. V (July 1884), pp. 333-334.

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