Nimzowitsch, Aron VS Tarrasch, Siegbert 1914.04.28

Annotations

1. 11.cxd5 The most natural move to which the development of the Q Kt at Q 2 instead of B 3 would seem to lead is Kt - K 5 followed by P - B 4. After 11 Kt - K 5 Black could not yet attempt 11...P x Q P; 12 K P x P, B - R 6, weakening the Q P, because of 13 B x B, Q x B; 14 P x P, Kt x Kt; 15 P x Kt, Kt x P; 16 Kt - B 4 and Kt - Q 6.
2. 12.Nh4 In order to provoke Black's weakening move: P - Kt 3, which might give White chances of attack on the long diagonal Q R 1 - K R 8, White gives up two clear moves. Black is able to get considerably ahead in his development, much to White's disadvantage.
3. 13.Nhf3 Not Kt - K 5 yet, on account of 14 P x P, P x P?; 15 B x Kt, P x B; 16 Kt x P.
4. 14.dxc5 White's position is uncomfortable, and a satisfactory continuation is hard to find. Possibly passive resistance might have been the best plan, thus: Q - K 2, K R - Q 1, Kt - B 1 - Kt 3. The text move is a preliminary to operations on the Queen's side, but allows Black too much scope in the centre.
5. 15.Bb5 White wishes to get rid of the Black Knight which supports the advance of P - Q 5.
6. 17.Qc2 White has no idea of the threatened disaster, or he would have played P - K Kt 3. Even then, however, Black has the better game with two Bishops, and the Q and Kt better placed.
7. 17…Nxd2 The beginning of a brilliant mating combination.
8. 18…d4 Black would have played the same move if White had retaken with the Queen.
9. 19.exd4 P - K 4 was comparatively the best move, although Black's attack would have become overwhelming after P - B 4, e.g. 20 P - B 3, B - B 5, etc.
10. 21…Bxg2 Emanuel Lasker won a celebrated game from Bauer (Amsterdam, 1889) with a similar sacrifice of two Bishops, and very likely this is the reason why Tarrasch's beautiful game only earned him the second brilliancy prize at Petrograd (1914).
11. 22.f3 If K x B, then Q - Kt 5 ch; 23 K - R 1, R - Q 4; 24 Q x P, R - R 4 ch; 25 Q x R, Q x Q ch; 26 K - Kt 2, Q - Kt 4 ch and Q x Kt.
12. 22…Rfe8 Not Q - Kt 6, because of Kt - K 4.
13. 28…f4+ With Q - Kt 6 ch Black mates two moves earlier.
14. 31…Re8+ If K - Q 7, B - Kt 4 mate, if K - B 6, Q - R 5 mate.

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