Edward Lasker, Chess Strategy (1921)
Game 54 of 54
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Event
Match Teichmann-Spielmann +4-2=0
Site
Leipzig
Date
1914.??.??
Round
3
White
Black
Result
1-0
- 3.Nge2 This comes to the same as Kt-B 3, as after P-Q 4, P×P the Knight recaptures. If, however, Black plays P-Q 4 there is a certain advantage for White to have the Kt at K 2, e.g. 3...P-Q 4; 4 P×P, P×P; 5 P-Q 4. If now Black does not exchange pawns, White is able to bring his K B to bear on the centre after P-K Kt 3 and B-Kt 2.
- 3…Nc6 White can exchange this Knight later on, and thus make P-K 5 possible as soon as he should deem it advisable to drive the Black Knight from his K B 3, where the same is bound to develop sooner or later. It is perhaps wise to prevent P-K 5 by Q-B 2 instead of the move in the text. This is an old defence, introduced by Paulsen. Though it retards the development of Black's minor pieces, it produces a strong defensive position, and the opening of the Q B file gives attacking chances on the Queen's side. The defence might run like this: 3...P-Q R 3; 4 P-Q 4, P×P; 5 Kt×P, Q-B 2; 6 B-K 3, Kt-K B 3; 7 B-K 2, B-K 2; 8 Castles, P-Q Kt 4 followed by B-Kt 2, P-Q 3, Q Kt-Q 2, etc.
- 9…Bb4 As White can force Black to play P-Kt 3, a weakening move, by P-K 5 and Q-Kt 4, Black should have played P-Kt 3 at once, so as to have Kt-R 4 in answer to P-K 5, thus keeping one piece for the defence of the King's side. The latter is in jeopardy after the move in the text, and White's attack succeeds.
- 12…c5 Of course Black must not accept the sacrifice of the exchange by playing P-Q 5. After 13 Kt-K 4, B×R; 14 Kt-Q 6 ch, K-B 1; 15 R×B, Black is in a mating net, from which there is no escape, as he has no time to collect sufficient forces for the defence. The move in the text does not stem the tide either, and White quickly forces the win by a beautiful combination.
- 14…Qb6 Q-B 2 leads to the same conclusion.
- 17.e6 The object of White's fifteenth move is revealed. Without it the R at K 1 would now be attacked.
- 17…f5 Kt-B 4 fails on account of 18 P×P ch, K×P; 19 R-K 7 ch, followed by Q-K B 4.