Tartakower, Saviely VS Burn, Amos 1911.09.09

Annotations

1. 4.fxe5 On principle this exchange cannot be commended, as the opening of the Queen's file increases the Black Queen's mobility. White derives no benefit from the K B file so long as the Black Bishop makes castling impossible. White intends to play P—B 3 and P—Q 4, but the manœuvre is doubtful, and the whole opening includes an inordinately large number of pawn moves. In the present game Black exposes the failings inherent to this system unequivocally.
2. 5…Nc6 Black cannot put off White's P—Q 4 by B—K Kt 5, for White can give a check with the Queen and unpin the Knight.
3. 6.b4 The object of this move is not clear, as P—Kt 5 does not win a pawn (Kt—R 4; 8 Kt x P; 9 Q—R 5 ch). It does not promote development either, and only compromises the Q B P and Q Kt P.
4. 7.Bb5 This is aimed at the White King's pawn, which is deprived of its natural support by the Q Kt. In this position Black does well to attack White's K P rather than to defend his own, because an open King's file can only benefit him. Being able to castle, he can occupy the file with his Rook before White has time to bring his King into safety.
5. 8.Nxe5 It would have been better to protect the pawn by Q—K 2 or P—Q 3.
6. 8…O-O The beginning of a brilliant attack. Whether White exchanges the Bishop or the Knight, he is overwhelmed.
7. 9.Nxc6 After 9 B x Kt, P x B; 10 Kt x P, Q—K 1 wins; 10 P—Q 4 would also lose because Black gains two pawns after Kt x P; 11 O—O, Kt x P. It is interesting to note how speedily the weakness at White's Q B 3 is brought to book.
8. 10…Nxe4 Now White can neither take the Kt nor the R. In the first case Q—R 5 ch forces mate very soon, in the second B—B 7 ch, followed by B—Kt 5 ch or B—R 3 ch, wins the Queen.
9. 15.g3 Not Q x R, because of Q—B 7 ch and the loss of the Queen by a discovered check by the Bishop.
10. 18…a5 Such is the price to pay for premature advances.
11. 20…c5 Black shatters White's pawn position, and his Bishops and Rooks have full play along open files and diagonals.
12. 22.Nxa3 or P x B, R x R P ch; 23 R x R, Q x R ch; 24 K—B 1, B—B 4.
13. 22…Bxc5 The rest speaks for itself.

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