Part 11 (1/2)

11. B - Q 3 Kt - K 1

The alternative was Kt - Q 4. Otherwise White would play Q - R 3, and Black would be forced to play P - K Kt 3 (not P - K R 3, because of the sacrifice B P), seriously weakening his King's side.

12. Q - R 3 P - K B 4

White has no longer an attack, but he has compelled Black to create a marked weakness. Now White's whole plan will be to exploit this weakness (the weak K P), and the student can now see how the principles expounded previously are applied in this game. Every move is directed to make the weak King's p.a.w.n untenable, or to profit by the inactivity of the Black pieces defending the p.a.w.n, in order to improve the position of White at other points.

13. B B Q B 14. O - O R - B 3 15. K R - K 1 Kt - Q 3 16. R - K 2 B - Q 2

{86} At last the Bishop comes out, not as an active attacking piece, but merely to make way for the Rook.

17. Q R - K 1 R - K 1 18. P - Q B 4 Kt - B 2

A very clever move, tending to prevent P - B 5, and tempting White to play Kt B, followed by B P, which would be bad, as the following variation shows: 19 Kt B, Q Kt; 20 B P, Kt - Kt 4; 21 Q - Kt 4, R B; 22 P - K R 4, P - K R 4; 23 Q R, P Q; 24 R R ch, K - R 2; 25 P Kt, Q P. But it always happens in such cases that, if one line of attack is antic.i.p.ated, there is another; and this is no exception to the rule, as will be seen.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

19. P - Q 5 ! Kt Kt

Apparently the best way to meet the manifold threats of White. B P P would make matters worse, as the White Bishop would finally bear on the weak King's p.a.w.n _via_ Q B 4. {87}

20. R Kt P - K Kt 3 21. Q - R 4 K - Kt 2 22. Q - Q 4 P - B 4

Forced, as White threatened P K P, and also Q P

23. Q - B 3 P - Kt 3

Q - Q 3 was better. But Black wants to tempt White to play P P, thinking that he will soon after regain his p.a.w.n with a safe position. Such, however, is not the case, as White quickly demonstrates. I must add that in any case Black's position is, in my opinion, untenable, since all his pieces are tied up for the defence of a p.a.w.n, while White's pieces are free to act.

24. P P B - B 1

[Ill.u.s.tration]

25. B - K 2 !

The deciding and timely manoeuvre. All the Black pieces are useless after this Bishop reaches Q 5. {88}

25. ........ B P 26. B - B 3 K - B 2 27. B - Q 5 Q - Q 3

Now it is evident that all the Black pieces are tied up, and it only remains for White to find the quickest way to force the issue. White will now try to place his Queen at K R 6, and then advance the K R P to R 5 in order to break up the Black p.a.w.ns defending the King.

28. Q - K 3 R - K 2

If 28...P - B 5; 29 Q - K R 3, P - K R 4; 30 Q - R 4, R - K 2; 31 Q - Kt 5, K - Kt 2; 32 P - K R 4, Q - Q 2; 33 P - K Kt 3, P P; 34 P - B 4, and Black will soon be helpless, as he has to mark time with his pieces while White prepares to advance P - R 5, and finally at the proper time to play R B, winning.

29. Q - R 6 K - Kt 1 30. P - K R 4 P - R 3 31. P - R 5 P - B 5 32. P P P P 33. R B Resigns.

Commenting on White's play in this game, Dr. E. Lasker said at the time that if White's play were properly a.n.a.lysed it might be found that there was no way to improve upon it.

These apparently simple games are often of the most difficult nature.