Chess Strategy by Edward Lasker (inspirational novels .TXT) 📕

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A B C D E F G H

Diag. 120

In a game between Riga and Berlin PxP was tried for the first time, a bold venture which anticipates White’s desire to open the King’s file. After 7. R-K1 Black can defend the Kt by P-Q4, but after 8. KtxP White threatens again to win the Kt by P-KB3, besides attacking the QKt a second time. However, Black has a surprising answer in readiness. He initiates a violent counter attack which keeps White busy until Black, by castling, escapes the dangers of the double pin. (Compare Game No. 17.)

6. … P-QKt4

7. B-Kt3 P-Q4

8. P-QR4

This gives Black an opportunity of disposing of his QKt by exchanging it, thereby enabling him to round off his pawn position by P-QB4, at the same time threatening to cut off the Bishop by P-B5. 8. PxP followed by P-B3 is the natural continuation, as shown in the first part of this book, because the Bishop, retreating to B2, can operate on a useful diagonal.

8. … QKtxP!

QR-Kt1 would not be so good, because White obtains an open file for his Rook. The move in the text is an absolutely valid defence, as was proved by Schlechter in his match against Lasker.

9. KtxKt PxKt

10. Kt-B3

PxP and P-B3 seems a more natural continuation.

10. … KtxKt

Not PxKt, on account of BxP.

11. PxKt P-QB4

12. RPxP B-K2

in order to castle in reply to B-R4.

13. Q-B3

Here White should have got back his second pawn by PxQP. If then 13. … P-B5; 14. B-R4, Castles; 15. PxP, BxP, White plays P-QB3, providing a retreat for his R or B. After the move in the text this manoeuvre becomes impossible, because the B after P-B3 can be attacked twice but has lost the support of the Queen.

13. … B-K3

14. RxP Castles

15. PxP P-B5

16. B-R2

Now the Bishop is hemmed in permanently; in other words, Black is a piece up and must win easily. Therefore 16. B-R4 was compulsory in order to get at any rate three pawns for the piece, thus: 16. … B-Q2; 17. QxP, RxR; 18. PxR, BxB; 19. QxP.

16. … RxR

17. PxR Q-R4

18. B-Kt1 P-B6

19. Q-Kt3

White tries to work up an attack on the King’s side while Black is still occupied on the other wing.

19. … R-B1

20. P-B4 B-KB4

21. R-K1 B-B3

22. K-R1

In order to answer BxQP by 23. B-K3 and P-R7, 22. … QxP is not feasible because of QxP.

22. … P-R3

23. P-R3 R-Kt1

24. B-K3 QxP

25. R-Q1 Q-R8

26. Q-K1

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8 | | #R | | | | | #K | |

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7 | | | | | | #P | #P | |

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6 | | | | | | #B | | #P |

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5 | | | | #P | | #B | | |

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4 | | | | ^P | | ^P | | |

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3 | | | #P | | ^B | | | ^P |

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2 | | | ^P | | | | ^P | |

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1 | #Q | ^B | | ^R | ^Q | | | ^K |

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A B C D E F G H

Diag. 121

The sequel forms an instructive example of how superior development can afford winning chances even when there is no immediate prospect of material gain. The opposing pieces are gradually constricted until the defending lines are weakened by compulsory pawn moves. In the present position Black quietly sets to work to bring his Bishops to bear on the White King.

26. … B-K5

27. K-R2 B-K2

28. Q-B1

to free his game somewhat with P-B5, which Black prevents at once.

28. … P-B4

29. R-K1 B-R5

Being probably short of time, Black makes a few irrelevant moves. If his aim was not the opening of the KKt file but the subsequent sacrifice of the Queen, he might have played Q-Kt7 at once, followed by Q-Kt4.

30. P-Kt3 B-K2

31. B-B2 B-Q3

32. R-B1 K-R2

33. R-K1 R-Kt3

34. R-B1 B-R6

35. R-K1 Q-Kt7

36. Q-K2 R-Kt5

37. R-Kt1 R-Kt3

Otherwise White might embark upon a counter attack, beginning with P-Kt4. Now this is impossible on account of R-Kt3.

38. R-K1 Q-Kt4

39. Q-R5

After the exchange of Queens, Black would win easily by R-Kt7. 39. B-R2 also fails on account of QxQ; 40. RxQ, R-Kt7; 41. B-Kt3, B-Q6!; 42. R-K5, BxP, and the passed pawn costs a Rook. With the text move, White provokes the sacrifice of the Queen at Kt 8, apparently not seeing the fine continuation at Black’s disposal on the forty-first move.

39. … QxB!

40. RxQ RxR

41. P-Kt4

Compulsory. B-Kt1 would be followed by R-QB8, etc.

41. … B-B8!!

Resigns.

There might follow 42. K-Kt3, P-Kt3; 43. Q-R4, BxPch; 44. KxB, P-Kt4ch, and so on. 4l. … B-Q3 would have given White a little respite, though his game would still have been hopeless after PxP and R-K8.

GAME No. 15

White: Aljechin. Black: Niemzowitsch.

Ruy Lopez (see p. 41).

1. P-K4 P-K4

2. Kt-KB3 Kt-QB3

3. B-Kt5 P-QR3

4. B-R4 Kt-B3

5. Castles KtxP

6. P-Q4 P-QKt4

7. B-Kt3 P-Q4

8. PxP B-K3

9. P-B3 B-K2

10. R-K1

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8 | #R | | | #Q | #K | | | #R |

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7 | | | #P | | #B | #P | #P | #P |

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6 | #P | | #Kt| | #B | | | |

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5 | | #P | | #P | ^P | | | |

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4 | | | | | #Kt| | | |

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3 | | ^B | ^P | | | ^Kt| | |

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2 | ^P | ^P | | | | ^P | ^P | ^P |

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1 | ^R | ^Kt| ^B | ^Q | ^R | | ^K | |

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A B C D E F G H

Diag. 122

This is one of the most important positions in the Ruy Lopez. Black has the better development, but his centre is less secure. Whilst White has a pawn secured in the centre, Black has a Knight there which will soon be driven away. White’s Q4, the basis of his centre, is entirely in his hands, while Black’s Q4 is exposed to a steady pressure by the White pieces. Finally Black’s Q Kt is unfavourably placed, obstructing as it does the QBP and preventing it from falling into line with its fellows. In Petrograd, 1909, Lasker tried the following new defence: Kt-B4 followed by B-Kt5, giving up the moves gained before in order to relieve the pressure on the Black QP and to exchange the same ultimately at Q5. The various possibilities of the position have been discussed in connection with Diag. 22. It may be added that after 10. … Castles; QKt-Q2 is surely a better move than the usual Kt-Q4, as the Queen’s side should be developed before undertaking an attack (11. … Q-Q2?; 12. KtxB, followed by RxKt). For a long time it was thought that after Kt-Q4 Black had to exchange Knights, which enables White to make the pawn at QB7 “backward” by B-K3. For Black must first play P-KR3 to guard his Kt against the threat of P-B3 and P-KR4. However, a sensational innovation which refutes the Kt’s move was introduced in Breslau in 1912. It is the following sacrifice: 10. … Castles; 11. Kt-Q4, KtxKP!; 12. P-B3, B-Q3!!; 13. PxKt, B-Kt5!!; 14. Q-Q2, Q-R5 with an overpowering attack.

10. … Kt-B4

11. B-B2 B-Kt5

12. Q Kt-Q2 Castles

13. Kt-Kt3 Kt-K5

Here Lasker played Kt-K3 against Janowski (Paris, 1912), but it proved to be inferior, because 14. Q-Q3 disorganises Black’s King’s side forcibly.

The move in the text is not really a pawn sacrifice. After 14. BxKt, PxB; 15. QxQ, QRxQ; 16. KKt-Q4, KtxKt; 17. KtxKt, R-Q4, White cannot play 18. RxP, because of P-QB4; 19. Kt-B2, B-B4 or 19. Kt-B3, R-Q8ch; 20. Kt-K1, B-B4; 21. R-K2, B-Q6; 22. R-K3, B-Kt4.

14. B-B4 P-B4

15. PxP e.p. KtxP(B3)

16. Q-Q3 Kt-K5?

This loses the QBP, and weakens the QP. Black might have tried BxKt; 17. QxB, B-Q3. It would then have been possible to support the QP by P-B3 after moving the Kt away. If Black was anxious to preserve his two Bishops he would even have risked P-Kt3. After 17. B-R6, R-B2, the Bishop could have been driven away again by the KKt from Kt1 or Kt5. The open file offered some compensation and chances of counter attack.

17. BxP Q-Q2

Not QxB because of QxPch.

18. Kt-K5 KtxKt

19. BxKt B-R5

RxP is bad because of 20. RxKt, B-KB4; 21. Q-Kt3.

20. B-Kt3 BxB

21. RPxB B-B4

Now RxP! was feasible with a level game after: 22. RxKt, B-B4! 23. KxR, BxR; 24. Q any, Q-B4ch, followed by BxB. After missing this chance, Black soon loses the game.

22. Q-Q4 KR-Q1

23. QR-Q1 Q-QB2

24. Kt-Q2 KtxKBP

A last and desperate attempt. Black obtains Rook and pawn against two minor pieces, but has no time to initiate an attack with the Rooks. The wisest plan was to give up the P, with a view to effecting the exchange of the minor pieces, because an ending with Queen and Rooks generally produces a draw. Black could not play KtxKtP instead of the move in the text because of 25. B-Kt3!.

25. BxB KtxR

26. RxKt QxKtP

27. B-K6ch K-R1

28. BxP QR-B1

29. Kt-K4 Q-R5

30. P-QKt3 R-B3

White now obtains a passed pawn, and a speedy win.

31. Q-B2 Q-R4

32. Q-B3 QxQ

33. PxQ P-Kt3

34. R-Q2 R-Kt3

35. P-QB4 PxP

36. PxP R-Kt8ch

37. K-B2 P-QR4

38. P-B5 R-QB8

39. P-B6 K-Kt2

40. B-B4! RxB

41. RxR RxP

42. R-Q7ch K-R3

43. K-Kt3 R-B5

44. Kt-B2 K-Kt4

Mate was threatened by: 45. Kt-Kt4ch, K-R4; 46. R-Q5ch, P-Kt4; 47. R-Q6 and R-R6 mate (or if RxKtch, PxR mate).

45. R-Q5ch K-B3

46. RxP Resigns

GAME No. 16

White: Yates. Black: Gunsberg.

Ruy Lopez.

1. P-K4 P-K4

2. Kt-KB3 Kt-QB3

3. B-Kt5 P-QR3

4. B-R4 Kt-B3

5. Castles KtxP

6. P-Q4 P-QKt4

7. B-Kt3 P-Q4

8. PxP B-K3

9. P-QB3 B-K2

10. B-K3

in order to exchange the Black Knight if played to B4.

10. … Castles

11. QKt-Q2

If Q-Q3, then Kt-R4; 12. QKt-Q2, P-QB4.

11. … KtxKt

This furthers White’s development, and should not be played unless there is no other move available. To be considered are P-B4 and B-KKt5. An argument against P-B4 is that White can deprive Black’s weak centre pawn of one protecting piece (12. PxP e.p., KtxP (B3); 13. Kt-Kt5), and experience has shown that White obtains the superior game.

12. QxKt Kt-R4

13. B-B2 Kt-B5

A very dangerous manoeuvre, as White can evade the exchange of his Bishop and the Black Kt does not get back in time for the defence of the K side, where White’s attack becomes virulent. He should have played P-QB4 followed by Kt-B3.

14. Q-Q3 P-Kt3

15. B-R6 KtxKtP

16. Q-K2 R-K1

17. Kt-Q4

Black had probably anticipated that White would be content with regaining his pawn by BxP, but, with fine positional insight, he retains his Bishop for the coming onslaught and speedily concentrates his forces on the K side; whilst Black, who has won a pawn at the expense of several moves, cannot mobilise an equivalent number of pieces in time for the defence.

17. … Kt-B5

18. P-B4 B-Q2

White was threatening 19. Kt-B6,