Part 21 (1/2)

1. P - Q 4 P - Q 4 2. Kt - K B 3 P - Q B 4 3. P - B 4 P - K 3 4. P Q P K P P 5. Kt - B 3 Kt -Q B 3 6. P - K Kt 3 B - K 3

Kt - B 3 is the normal move in this variation. White's development was first introduced by Schlechter and elaborated later on by Rubinstein. It aims at the isolation of Black's Q P, against which the White pieces are gradually concentrated. In making the text move I was trying to avoid the beaten track. Being a developing move there should be no objection to it in the way of general principles, except that the Knights ought to come out before the Bishops.

7. B - Kt 2 B - K 2 8. O - O R - B 1

In pursuance of the idea of changing the normal {164} course of this variation, but with very poor success. The move in theory ought to be unsound, since Black's K Kt is yet undeveloped. I had not yet learned of the attack founded on Kt - Kt 5 and the exchange of the B at K 3. Either Kt - B 3 or P - K R 3; to prevent either B or Kt - K Kt 5, was right.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

9. P X P B P 10. Kt - K Kt 5 Kt - B 3 11. Kt B P Kt 12. B - R 3 Q - K 2 13. B - Kt 5 O - O

This is a mistake. The right move was R - Q 1 in order to get the Rook away from the line of the Bishop at R 3 and at the same time to support the Q P.

Incidentally it shows that White failed to take proper advantage of Black's weak opening moves. Against the text move White makes a very fine combination {165} which I had seen, but which I thought could be defeated.

14. B Kt Q B

I considered P B, which it seemed would give me a playable game, but I thought White's combination unsound and therefore let him play it, to my lasting regret.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

15. Kt P ! Q - R 3

[Ill.u.s.tration] {166}

16. K - Kt 2 !

_This_ is the move which I had not considered. I thought that Rubinstein would have to play B - Kt 2, when I had in mind the following winning combination: 16 B - Kt 2, Kt - K 4 ! 17 Kt - B 4 (if R - B 1, Q R !!

Q Q, B P ch wins), Kt - Kt 5; 18 P - K R 3 (if Kt - R 3, B P ch wins the exchange), Kt P; 19 R Kt, B R ch; 20 K B, P - K Kt 4, and Black should win. It is curious that this combination has been overlooked. It has been taken for granted that I did not see the 17th move Q - B 1.

16. ........ Q R - Q 1

After White's last move there was nothing for me to do but submit to the inevitable.

17. Q - B 1 ! P Kt 18. Q B Q - Q 7 19. Q - Kt 5 Kt - Q 5 20. Q - Q 3 Q Q 21. P Q K R - K 1 22. B - Kt 4

This gives Black a chance. He should have played K R - K 1. If then Kt - B 7; R R ch, R R; R - Q B 1, R - K 7; K - B 1, Kt - Q 5 (if R - Q 7; B - K 6 ch, K - B 1; B P would win); R - B 8 ch, K - B 2; R - B 7 ch, R - K 2; R - B 5 wins. {167}

22. ........ R - Q 3 23. K R - K 1 R R 24. R R R - Q Kt 3 25. R - K 5 R P 26. R P Kt - B 3 27. B - K 6 ch K - B 1 28. R - B 5 ch K - K 1 29. B - B 7 ch K - Q 2 30. B - B 4

[Ill.u.s.tration]

30. ........ P - Q R 3

A bad move, which gives away any legitimate chance Black had to draw. It loses a very important move. In fact, as the course of the game will show, it loses several moves. The proper way was to play K - Q 3. If then R - Q Kt 5, R R; B R, Kt - Q 5; followed by P - Q Kt 4; and White would have an exceedingly difficult game to draw on account of the dominating position of the Knight at {168} Q 5 in conjunction with the extra p.a.w.n on the Queen's side and the awkward position of White's King. (See how this is so.)

31. R - B 7 ch K - Q 3 32. R K Kt P P - Kt 4 33. B - Kt 8 P - Q R 4 34. R P P - R 5 35. P - R 4 P - Kt 5 36. R - R 6 ch K - B 4 37. R - R 5 ch K - Kt 3 38. B - Q 5

With these last three moves White again gives Black a chance. Even before the last move B - B 4 would have won with comparative ease, but the text move is a downright blunder, of which, fortunately for him, Black does not avail himself.