Part 23 (1/2)

29. Q - Kt 1 P - K 5 30. P Kt P R 31. P - Q 6 R - K 7 32. P - Q 7 R - B 7 ch 33. K - Kt 1 R - Kt 1 ch 34. Kt - Kt 3 Q - K 2

[Ill.u.s.tration]

35. R P

The position is most interesting. I believe I lost here my last chance to win the game, and if that is true it would vindicate my judgment when, on move 28, I played P - B 4. The student can find out what would happen if White plays Q - Q 4 ! at once. I have gone over the following variations: 35 Q - Q 4, R K R P (of course if R B P, P - Q 8 wins); {181} 36 Q Q P ! R - Q 1; 37 Q - R 6, K - Kt 1 best (if Q - Q 5 ch; K - R 1, K - Kt 1; R - Q Kt 1 wins); 38 Q B P and White will at least have a draw.

35. ........ R - K 7 36. Q - Q 4 R - Q 1 37. Q - R 4 Q - K 5 38. Q - R 6 K - Kt 1

There is nothing to be done against this simple move, since White cannot play Kt - Q 4, because Q - R 8 mates.

39. K - B 1 R Q P 40. Kt - Q 4 R - K 8 ch Resigns.

A very interesting battle.

GAME 5. RUY LOPEZ

(St. Petersburg, 1914)

White: Dr. E. Lasker. Black: J. R. Capablanca.

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

The object of this move is to bring about speedily a middle-game without Queens, in which White {182} has four p.a.w.ns to three on the King's side, while Black's superiority of p.a.w.ns on the other side is somewhat balanced by the fact that one of Black's p.a.w.ns is doubled. On the other hand, Black has the advantage of remaining with two Bishops while White has only one.

4. ........ Q P B 5. P - Q 4 P P 6. Q P Q Q 7. Kt Q B - Q 3

Black's idea is to Castle on the King's side. His reason is that the King ought to remain on the weaker side to oppose later the advance of White's p.a.w.ns. Theoretically there is very much to be said in favour of this reasoning, but whether in practice that would be the best system would be rather difficult to prove. The student should notice that if now all the pieces were exchanged White would practically be a p.a.w.n ahead, and would therefore have a won ending.

8. Kt - Q B 3 Kt - K 2

A perfectly sound form of development. In any other form adopted the Black Kt could not be developed either as quickly or as well. K 2 is the natural position for the Black Kt in this variation, in order not to obstruct Black's p.a.w.ns, and also, in some eventualities, in order to go to K Kt 3.

There is {183} also the possibility of its going to Q 5 via Q B 3 after P - Q B 4.

9. O - O O - O 10. P - B 4

This move I considered weak at the time, and I do still. It leaves the K P weak, unless it advances to K 5, and it also makes it possible for Black to pin the Kt by B - Q B 4.

10. ........ R - K 1

Best. It threatens B - B 4; B - K 3, Kt - Q 4. It also prevents B - K 3 because of Kt - Q 4 or B 4.

11. Kt - Kt 3 P - B 3

Preparatory to P - Q Kt 3, followed by P - Q B 4 and B - Kt 2 in conjunction with Kt - Kt 3, which would put White in great difficulties to meet the combined attack against the two centre p.a.w.ns.

12. P - B 5

[Ill.u.s.tration] {184}