1…d5It has been tried to refute White's non-developing first move by a pawn sacrifice: 1...P—K 4 which leads to a rapid mobilisation of the Black forces after 2 P x P, P—Q 3; 3 P x P, B x P. But this attack—called the From Gambit—does not seem to prevail against the best defence. When Black plays P—K B 4 in answer to 1 P—Q 4 we have the Dutch Defence.
5…Nf6Black should have played B—Q 2 here, as White can exchange at B 6, leaving Black with a doubled pawn. This in itself is not a drawback, but in the present position it is serious, as Black will have difficulty in finding a place for his Q B. For there is no prospect of enforcing P—K 4, as White commands that square in sufficient force.
9.Ne5Black's attempt of capturing his K 4 by playing Kt—Q 2 and P—B 3, White would cross at once with Q—Kt 4. With the text move Black begins operations on the Q side, which is quite correct, as White has the upper hand on the other wing.
11.Qe2White should have prevented the further advance of the Black R P by 11 P—Q R 4. This would have been sound policy in any case, as the R file could not have been forced open for the Black Rooks.
12…axb3Premature. The capture is only of value if the file can be held. To that end it is first necessary to play B—Kt 2 and to occupy the R file while Rooks and Queen. After the exchange of Rooks, Black is at a disadvantage for the end-game because of the inefficiency of the Q B.
16.Rxa8+If instead of the text move Black had driven off the Bishop to B 1 while P—R 6 (13 B—B 3?, P—Q 5!; 14 P x P, Kt—Q 4) he could have enforced his P—K 4, but in the long run White would have captured the Q R P, and remained while a passed pawn on the R file, a powerful weapon for the end-game.
18.Ndf3The Black pieces being cut off from the K side, White is free to attack.
20.c4in order to prevent the release of the B by the pawn sacrifice P—B 5 and P—B 4.
24.h6By advancing his R P White has weakened Black's K B 3, while the constant threat of establishing his Kt there and of capturing the R P.
25.Kf1This move is superfluous and probably dictated by time pressure. The proper plan is: Q—Q Kt 2 while the threat of B—B 7 or Kt 8 and Q—R 8 ch.
26.Qb2The end-game is a clear win for White. He plays his Kt to K Kt 4, threatening to reach B 6 or K 5. The effect is twofold.
28.Nh2Black must keep his B at K 2 and his K must remain near the K B P. White's King marches to Q Kt 6 and captures the Q B pawns, queening his Q Kt P. Black cannot prevent the White King from doing this by B—Q 1, as White, by attacking Black's Q B 4 while his B, could at any time force the B back to his K 2. The remainder of the game needs no comment.
42.Nf2because there follows Kt—K 4 and B x P.
Edward Lasker, Chess Strategy (1921) · Public domain · source