Bird-Mason, 1876

The Bird–Mason game, played at the 1876 New York tournament, is one of the most famous encounters of the 19th century and the first game in chess history to be awarded a brilliancy prize. Henry Bird, playing White, won after a fiercely contested battle of just under 50 moves, marked by constant tactical tension and dramatic swings in evaluation.

The game opened as an Exchange French Defense. Mason adopted a slightly passive setup with early …h6 and …Bd6, but his inaccurate 12…Qd7?! allowed Bird to gain the initiative by expanding on the queenside with b4–b5 and increasing pressure in the center. White gradually built a promising position, though without finding the most precise continuations.

In the middlegame, Bird exchanged bishops on e7 and then sharply captured on g6, leading to complex kingside tactics. Mason responded with the counterattacking …Nxh3+, creating threats against White’s king and briefly seizing the advantage. However, he missed a critical opportunity with 29…Bxd4, and after Bird’s serious blunder 31.Ra6?, Black failed to convert his winning position cleanly.

The endgame was chaotic and rich in errors from both sides. Mason again reached a winning position after 34.Nfg6 and 35.Nxc6, but the decisive blunder 37…Qd2?? completely reversed the situation. Bird also faltered with 41.Rg3??, yet Mason’s subsequent mistakes—42…Kg7?? and 44…Nh7??—allowed White’s knights to take over.

Bird concluded the game with a striking sequence of knight checks—Nh5+, Nhf6, and Ng6+—forcing Mason’s resignation and securing a victory that remains celebrated for its fighting spirit and romantic style.