Teichmann, Richard VS Schlechter, Carl 1911.09.14

Annotations

1. 11…Qc7 Supporting, as it does, the K P, this is not a lost move, although White has not played P - Q 4. It prepares Black's P - Q 4 (after Kt - B 3), the K P being fully protected against White's double attack by P x P.
2. 13…Bb7 The logical move would have been B - K 3, to enforce P - Q 4. Black is then very well developed, whilst White labours under a somewhat undeveloped Queen's side. An attempt to exert pressure in the centre with P - Q 4 in order to prevent Black's P - Q 4 would be belated. Black would gain the advantage by: 14...K P x P; 15 P x P, P x P; 16 Kt x P, Kt x Kt; 17 Q x Kt, Kt - Kt 5! Nor would B - Kt 5 before Kt - K 3 be more successful; after B - K 3; 14 Kt - K 3, Q R - Q 1; 15 P - Q 4, B P x P; 16 P x P, P x P; 17 Kt x P, Kt x Kt; 18 Q x Kt, Q - B 4, Black has the better chances in the end-game. The move in the text is not good because, as we saw before, the Bishop is wanted on the other diagonal to cover the square at K B 4.
3. 15…Nd7 Even now it was desirable to aim at P - Q 4, therefore Q R - Q 1 was preferable.
4. 16.Bb3 The position of the White pieces points to a dangerous menace to the opposing King's side.
5. 17.Bd5 The beginning of a brilliant combination. B x Kt is threatened, and Black must first cover his B at K 2.
6. 18…Ngxe7 Q Kt x B is not feasible, because of B x B and Kt x Q P.
7. 20.Ng5+ Quite a number of charming combinations are hidden in this position. If K - Kt 3 or Kt 1, then 21 Kt x Kt P! If K - B 3 White can capture the R P first with check.
8. 24.Qg6 The point. This prevents P - Kt 3, which would allow Black to bring up his Q for the defence at Kt 2. Now nothing can be done against the threatening R - K 3 - B 3 or R 3.
9. 25.Re3 A wonderful game in which Teichmann, the great judge of position, proves himself also a master in hand-to-hand fighting, in the wild chaos of sacrificial combinations.

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