Tartakower gave two games of Thomas' in 100 master games of modern chess , and in the second he was the victim. Club players always dream of beating grandmasters, but in Andrew Thomas we see a player who could do it. — DR
Catalan
1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O c5 5. d4 Nc6 6. c4 dxc4 7. Qa4 Bd7 8. dxc5 Bxc5 9. Qxc4 Be7 10. Nc3 Rc8 11. Qh4!? O-O
12. e4? [12. Rd1 is better. ] 12...e5! 13. Bh3?
[13. Rd1 or 13. Bg5 was necessary. White is in trouble. ]
13...Nd4! [13...Ng4 14. Ng5 h6 15. Bxg4 hxg5 16. Qh3] 14. Nxe5
[14. Nxd4 exd4 15. Ne2 Bxh3 16. Qxh3 Nxe4 with an important Pawn as booty, but this move costs the Queen]
14...Ng4 15. Bxg4 Bxh4 16. Nxd7 f5 17. Nxf8 fxg4 18. Be3
[18. gxh4 Qxh4 19. Bf4 Rxc3 20. Bg3 Rxg3+ 21. fxg3 Ne2+ 22. Kf2 Qxh2+]
18...Nf3+ 19. Kh1 Qxf8 20. gxh4 Qd6 0-1
Black has taken advantage of his opportunity in a masterly manner . " — says Tartakower in 100 Master Games of Modern Chess , a comment " typically generous ", according to ARBT. The finesse required to catch the master's Queen is by any standards a fine one.