1.
e4
e6
2.
d4
d5
3.
Nc3
Nf6
4.
Bg5
Bb4
5.
exd5
Qxd5
6.
Nf3
c5
7.
Bxf6
gxf6
8.
Qd2
Bxc3
9.
Qxc3
Nd7
10.
Rd1
Rg8
11.
dxc5
Qxc5
12.
Qd2
Qb6
13.
c3
a6
14.
Qc2
f5
15.
g3
Nc5
16.
Bg2
Qc7
17.
Qe2
b5
18.
O-O
Bb7
19.
c4
b4
20.
Qd2
Rb8
21.
Qh6
Bxf3
22.
Bxf3
Qe5
23.
Rfe1
Qxb2
24.
Qf4
Rc8
25.
Qd6
f6
26.
Bh5+
Rg6
27.
Bxg6+
hxg6
28.
Rxe6+
1-0
Opening Explorer
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Site
Duesseldorf/Munich
Date
1908.09.15
Round
11
White
Black
Result
1-0
Score
- 4…Bb4 This line of defence, called the McCutcheon variation, was recommended for many years by Tarrasch as being the strongest. The most obvious continuation 5 P—K 5 leads to complications, and the final verdict has not yet been reached. After 5...P—K R 3, the best continuation is thought to be: 6 P x Kt, P x B; 7 P x P, R—Kt 1; 8 P—K R 4, P x P; 9 Q—R 5, Q—B 3; 10 Q x R P, Q x P. White has an easy development, whilst Black, as in most variations in the French defence, finds it difficult to bring his Q B into play. After P—K R 3, it is not advisable to retire the Bishop; 6 B—R 4, P—K Kt 4; 7 B—Kt 3, for here the Bishop is out of play, and Black's King's Knight being free can play to K 5 for concerted action with Black's K B. Lasker's continuation in the present instance is at once simple and effective. It leads to an entirely different system of development.
- 5…Qxd5 If Black recaptures with the pawn, he must lose a move with the Bishop in order to avoid getting an isolated doubled pawn after 6 Q—B 3. The doubled pawn which Black may get after the move in the text would not be isolated, and therefore not necessarily weak. It could become a weakness if Black were to castle on the King's side. But otherwise it might even become a source of strength, supporting, as it would, an advance of Black's K P against the White centre.
- 6…c5 Black should retain the option of castling Q R, in case White exchanges at his K B 6; P—Q Kt 3 and B—Kt 2 would have been better.
- 12…Qb6 Guarding against the mate at Q 1 before moving the Kt. But this would have been better effected by Q—K 2. After Q—Kt 3 the Knight cannot move yet because of B—Kt 5 ch.
- 17.Qe2 Black wishes to push on the K P. White, however, prevents this at once.
- 18…Bb7 The Black position has any number of weaknesses. The King cannot castle into safety; the pawn position is full of holes, and open to attack. White takes full advantage of this and wins in masterly fashion with a few strokes.
- 20…Rb8 Now White cannot capture the Kt P because of B x Kt. But he does not want the pawn, he wants the King.
- 25.Qd6 Mate in two was threatened (B—B 6 ch, etc.).
[Event "World-ch08 Lasker-Tarrasch +8-3=5"] [Site "Duesseldorf/Munich"] [Date "1908.09.15"] [Round "11"] [White "Lasker, Emanuel"] [Black "Tarrasch, Siegbert"] [Result "1-0"] 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. exd5 Qxd5 6. Nf3 c5 7. Bxf6 gxf6 8. Qd2 Bxc3 9. Qxc3 Nd7 10. Rd1 Rg8 11. dxc5 Qxc5 12. Qd2 Qb6 13. c3 a6 14. Qc2 f5 15. g3 Nc5 16. Bg2 Qc7 17. Qe2 b5 18. O-O Bb7 19. c4 b4 20. Qd2 Rb8 21. Qh6 Bxf3 22. Bxf3 Qe5 23. Rfe1 Qxb2 24. Qf4 Rc8 25. Qd6 f6 26. Bh5+ Rg6 27. Bxg6+ hxg6 28. Rxe6+ 1-0