Part 29 (1/2)

[Ill.u.s.tration] {226}

8. Q - K 2

This is played to prevent P - Q Kt 3, followed by B - Kt 2, which is the general form of development for Black in this variation. If Black now plays 8...P - Q Kt 3; 9. B - Kt 5 ch, B - Q 2; 10. Kt - K 5 and White obtains a considerable advantage in position.

8. ........ O - O 9. B - K Kt 5 P - K R 3

Of course Black could not play P - Q Kt 3 because of B Kt, followed by Q - K 4.

10. B Kt B B 11. Q - K 4 P - K Kt 3

This weakens Black's King's side. R - K 1 was the right move.

12. P - K R 4

[Ill.u.s.tration]

12. ........ P - K 4

This is merely giving up a p.a.w.n in order to come out quickly with his Q B.

But as he does not obtain {227} any compensation for his p.a.w.n, the move is bad. He should have played Q - Q 4 and tried to fight the game out that way. It might have continued thus: 13. Q - B 4, B - Kt 2; 14. Q B P, B P; 15. Kt B, Q Kt; 16. O - O - O with considerable advantage of position for White. The text move might be considered a mild form of suicide.

13. P P B - B 4 14. Q - K B 4 B B 15. O - O - O B - Kt 2 16. R B Q - K 2 17. Q - B 4

In order to keep the Black Queen from coming into the game.

17. ........ Q R - Q 1 18. K R - Q 1

A better plan would have been to play R - K 1, threatening P - K 6.

18. ........ R R 19. R R R - K 1 20. P - B 3 P - Q B 3

Of course if B P; Kt B, Q Kt; R - K 3. Black with a p.a.w.n minus fights very hard.

21. R - K 3

The p.a.w.n had now to be defended after Black's last move, because after B P; Kt B, Q Kt; {228} R - K 3, Black could now play Q - Kt 1 defending the Rook.

21. ........ P - Q B 4 22. K - B 2 P - Kt 3 23. P - R 4

White's plan now is to _fix_ the Queen's side in order to be able to manoeuvre freely on the other side, where he has the advantage of material.

23. ........ Q - Q 2 24. R - Q 3 Q - B 1 25. Q - K 4 Q - K 3 26. R - Q 5 K - B 1 27. P - B 4 K - Kt 1

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Black sees that he now stands in his best defensive position, and therefore waits for White to show how he intends to break through. He notices, of course, that the White Knight is in the way of the K B P, which cannot advance to K B 4 to defend, or support rather, the p.a.w.n at K 5. {229}

28. P - Q Kt 3 K - B 1 29. K - Q 3 K - Kt 1 30. R - Q 6 Q - B 1 31. R - Q 5 Q - K 3 32. P - K Kt 4 K - B 1 33. Q - B 4 K - Kt 1 34. Q - K 4 K - B 1