Forgacs, Leo VS Cohn, Erich 1909.02.26

Annotations

1. 6…h6 Through 3...P x P Black's development is one move behind, and such pawn moves should at any cost be avoided as do not contribute to the mobilisation of the pieces. Castles, P - Q Kt 3, B - Kt 2, and Q Kt - Q 2 was the proper course.
2. 7.Bxf6 This is better than to withdraw the Bishop; Black's last move was clearly loss of time.
3. 9…O-O There seems to be nothing alarming about the position, yet on closer investigation a number of vital failings can be discerned in Black's camp. The absence of a pawn in the centre and the unsatisfactory development have a far-reaching influence. White will be able to bring his forces to the King's side by way of K 4, which is made accessible by the disappearance of Black's Q P, before Black has time to bring his Q B to bear on White's K 4 by P - Q Kt 3 and B - Kt 2. White's immediate threat (after P - K 5) is Q - K 2 - K 4 and B - Q 3. If Black does not wish to risk P - K Kt 3, he must defend himself with R - K 1, Kt - B 1. In the meantime White can play R - Q 1 and threaten P - Q 5, opening the Queen's file. This again necessitates P - B 3, which postpones the efficiency of the Q B at Kt 2 until White's Q Kt and Q R have been brought up for the attack. The game develops on these lines, and provides an excellent example of the advantage of the command of the centre.
4. 13…Qc7 preparing P - Q Kt 3.
5. 17…Bb4 Black cannot yet play P - Q B 4, as R - B 4 is threatened with an attack on K B 7. The Bishop which obstructs the Q would have no move, save the sorry retreat to Q 1, and White would win speedily: 17...P - Q B 4; 18 R - B 4, B - Q 1; 19 P - Q 5, P x P; 20 Kt x P, B x Kt; 21 B x B, attacking R and P.
6. 19…Kh8 Q x P was threatened.
7. 21.Ne4 Even the Knight is brought in via K 4.
8. 23.Nf6 threatening Q x P ch and R - Kt 8 mate. Black cannot capture the Kt because of Q x P ch and mate at Kt 7. But the mate cannot be delayed much longer in view of the concentration of superior forces for the attack.
9. 24.Rh3 There is no answer to Q - Kt 5 and R x P.

Edward Lasker, Chess Strategy (1921) · Public domain · source