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Battles Royal of the Chessboard

Collected and presented by


R. N. Coles

Cadogan Books
London
R.N. Coles 1948
This edition published 1995 by Cadogan Books pic, London House,
Parkgate Road, London, SW11 4NQ

ISBN 1 85744 182 6

Printed and bound in Finland by Werner Sderstrm Oy


CONTENTS
PAGE
INTRODUCTION .. .. ix
GAMES
* A n asterisk signifies the winner. No asterisk signifies a drawn game.

1. McD o n n ell *de L a b o u r d o n n a is , 47th match


game, London, 1834 ......................... .. 11
King's Bishop's Opening
2. * d e L a b o u r d o n n a is M c D o n n e l l , 78th match
game, London, 1834 ........................ x4
Queens Gambit
3. B o n c o u r t * S a i n t -A m a n t , Paris, 1839 .. .. 18
Giuoco Piano
4. S t a u n t o n S a i n t -A m a n t , 2nd match game, London,
1843........................................................... .. 20
King's Bishop's Opening
5. * B ir d H o r w it z , London tournament, 1851 .. 23
Ruy Lopez
6. von d e r L a s a "'St a u n t o n , 2nd match game,
Brussels, 1853 .. .. .. .. .. 26
King's Bishop's Opening
7. A n d erssen M o r ph y, 2nd match game, Paris, 1858 28
Ruy Lopez
8. A n d e r s se n *S t e in it z , 3rd match game, London,
1866...................................................................... 31
Evans Gambit
9. Z u k e r t o r t *S t e in it z , ist match game, London,
1872...................................................................... 34
Giuoco Piano
10. M ason * Z u k e r t o r t , London tournament, 1883 .. 37
Queen's Gambit Declined
11. B u r n *M a c k e n z i e , 4th match game, London, 1886 41
Queens Pawn Game
12. * T a r r a s c h G u n s b e r g , Frankfort tournament, 1887 44
French Defence
13. *M a c k e n z i e B l a c k b u r n e , Bradford tournament,
1888.................................... .. .. .. 46
Queen's Pawn Game
14. W e i s s T c h ig o r in ,
ist tie-match game, New York
tournament, 1889................................................49
Ruy Lopez
15. * P il l sb u r y T a r rasch , Hastings tournament, 1895 52
Pillsbury Attack
16. *S t e i n i t z P i l l s b u r y , St. Petersburg tournament,
1896...................................................................... 54
Petroff Defence
17. P i l l s b u r y T c h ig o r in , St. Petersburg tournament,
1896...................................................................... 57
Tchigorin Defence
CONTENTS

18. C h a r o u se k P il l s b u r y ,Nuremburg tournament,


1896............................................................... 60
Falkbeer Counter-Gambit
19. St e in it z L a s k e r , 5th match game, Moscow, 1896.. 63
Pillsbury Attack
20. L asker *B lack bu r n e, London tournament, 1899 65
Ruy Lopez
21. J a n o w s k i B urn, Paris tournament, 1900 67
Ruy Lopes
22. ^M a r s h a l l M a r c o , Monte Carlo tournament, 1904 70
Scotch Gambit
23. * L a sk e r N a p ie r , Cambridge Springs tournament,
1904 ..................................................... 75
Sicilian Defence
24. Du r a s T e i c h m a n n , Ostend tournament, 1906 .. 78
Ruy Lopes
25. ""Ru b i n s t e i n L a s k e r , St. Petersburg tournament,
IQOQ 81
Tarrasch Defence
26. Marsh all *C a p a b l a n c a , n th match game. New
York, 1909 ........................................... 84
PUlsbury Attack
27. Sch lech ter L a sk er , 7th match game, Berlin, 1910 87
Sicilian Defence
28. M i e s e s Ca p a b l a n c a , Exhibition game, Berlin 1913 90
Centre Game
29. *C apa b la n ca Mar sh all, New York tournament,
1918 ..................................................... 93
Ruy Lopes
30. R u b in s t e in * A l e k h i n e , London tournament, 1922 95
Slav Defence
31. Re t i B e c k e r , Vienna tournament, 1923 .. 98
Reti System
32. Z n o sk o -B o r o v sk y A l e k h in e , Paris tournament,
1925 ........................................................... 100
Alekhine Defence
33. * T artakow er B o go lyubov, London tournament,
IQ27 102
Ponsiani Opening
34. A l e k h in e Ca p a b l a n c a , 22nd match game, Buenos
Aires, 1927 ........................................... 105
Pillsbury Attack
35. C a p a b l a n c a N i m z o w it c h , Kissingen tournament,
1928 ..................................................... 109
Nimso-Indian Defence
36. E uw e B ogolyubov, 8th match game, 1928 112
PUlsbury Attack
37. *V idmar E uwe , Carlsbad tournament, 1929 114
Queen's Pawn Game
38. A l e k h in e B o g o l y u b o v , 11th match game, Weis-
baden, 1929 .. * * .* 116
PiUsbury Attach
39. Spielmann Stoltz, Bled tournament, 1931 120
Queen's Gambit
CONTENTS
40. Colle * K ash d an, Bled tournament, 1931 123
Colle System
41. Stoltz *C o lle , Bled tournament, 1931 .. 126
Alekhine Defence
42. E uw e Y ates, Hastings tournament, 1932.. 128
Kings Indian Defence
43. S u lt a n K h a n * A le k h in e , Folkestone team tourna
ment, 1933 ................................ 131
Queen's Pawn Game
44. S p ie l m a n n L a s k e r , Moscow tournament, 1935 136
Scotch Game
45. E uwe A l e k h i n e , 19th match game, Eindhoven
1937 ........................................................ 138
Nimzo-Indian Defence
46. R e s h e v s k y B o t v in n ik , Avro tournament, 1938 141
Nimzo-Indian Defence
47. E uw e K eres, Avro tournament, 1938 143
Dutch Defence
48. F in e "K eres, Avro tournament, 1938 145
Ruy Lopez
49. *B o t v in n ik A lexander, Anglo-Russian radio
match, 1946 ......................................... 149
Nimzo-Indian Defence
50. Sm y slo v Katetov, Moscow-Prague match, 1946. 152
French Defence

Index of Op e n in g s ...........................................155
INTRODUCTION
I can do no better in giving my reasons for making the presen
collection of games than to tell the story of an incident which
occulted at a British Chess Federation congress. Two moderate
players were engaged in a very complicated and exciting game and
a well-known master was looking on. When the game finished in
a draw White said to Black, I enjoyed that. It was a really good
game. " Good ? interposed the master. But White could
have won a piece nine moves ago, and Black three moves later
missed a forced mate in six ! The pieces were set up again and
the correctness of the masters analysis was established. All the
same it was a rattling good game, said White. A look of puzzled
exasperation came over the masters face. The mate in six, with
a queen sacrifice and a knight sacrifice, that is good, yes, but you
did not see it. No, said Black, and I never shall see things
like that though I study master brilliancies till the cows come
home. " Then the game is not good? All right, agreed
Black, it was not good, but it was the most enjoyable game Ive
had for months. With a helpless shrug of his expressive shoulders
the master left them.
The artist is a being apart, searching ever after perfection ; the
rest of us can admire works of art but we cannot create them. As
with art, so with chess, the difference being that we do not leave
the playing of the game to the experts; we continue to extract
the utmost pleasure from the humble rough-and-tumble chess of
which we are capable, and if we occasionally miss a brilliancy
because our imagination will not rise to it we probably get greater
pleasure from a greater number of games than the artist does who
cannot appreciate anything less than perfection. So long as a game
is hard fought, and especially if it is complicated and exciting, that
game is enjoyable and good enough for most of us.
Many collections of games have been made in which the bril
liancies which are beyond the average player are beautifully dis
played. We admire them but cannot relate them to our own play
over the board. We watch the defeated master in the ineluctable
toils, but our own opponents wriggle out of our best laid schemes
and as like as not we then have to struggle to avoid defeat our
selves ; we seek to attain supremacy only to find our opponent
securing the ascendancy on some other part of the board. This is
chess as we know it and as we have to play it.
INTRODUCTION
The present collection consists of master examples of the sort
of game which White and Black enjoyed so much at the congress ;
here may be seen how the masters react when a combination goes
wrong or when their opponents fight back ; in these games neither
player is content to be smothered by the brilliant imagination of
the other, nor to allow master technique to win a won game by
copybook methods ; here is complicated, fighting chess.
A few of the games will be old favourites, which could not well
be omitted from a collection of this nature ; such are Nos. 15 and
20, but if their presence serves to whet the appetite for more like
them, well and good. Many of the others will be less well known.
The notes are indebted to many sources for analyses, and these
have frequently passed through so many hands that it has not
been possible to acknowledge the original except in a few cases ;
the few original notes are designed to throw into relief the up-and-
down nature of the various battles. As for the title the contes
tants are all of the blood royal of chess aristocracy and the games
ate in all senses Battles Royal.
R.N.C.
Harrow, 1948
L. C. M. de Labourdonnais (1795-1840) was the greatest chess-
master of the first half of the nineteenth century, no rival worthy
of him being found until 1834, when he came to London and played
A. McDonnell (1798-1835) in a series of games which still bears
comparison with those of any later age. The Frenchman won the
majority because of his greater versatility and position judgment.
The premature death of both players was an irreparable loss and
it is fitting that they lie now in adjacent graves at Kensal Green.

GAME 1 Better was B KKt5. Black


is now able to take advantage of
MCDONNELL-DE LABOURDONNAIS the queens position with a
beautiful pawn sacrifice which
1st game of the 4th match and opens a phase of absorbing in
47th of the series. terest and complexity.
London, 1834.
9- P-Q4
K in g s B i s h o p s O p e n i n g 10. K P x P

1. P K4 P K4 An alternative was B x P , but


not QPx P, P x B ; 11 P x K t ,
2. B B4 B B4
P x Q ; 1 2 PXQ, P x K t ; win
3. P QB3
ning a piece. Even now White
Q Kt4 was a later fashion. must play with the greatest
exactness to avoid losing a
3. Q -K 2 piece.
4. Kt B3 P Q3
5* O O B Kt3 10. P K5
6. P Q4 Kt KB3 11. Q Q2 PxKt
7. Kt R3 B Kt5 12. R K i Kt K5
13. Q B4 P KB4
If K t x P ; 8 R K i, P 14. PxP
KB4 ; 9 B Q5. [Diagram 1]
8. Kt B2 QKt Q2 14. P Kt4
And now if Kt x P ; 9 B 15. Q - K 3
Q5, at once.
If Qx Kt P, not 15 . . ., K t x
9 - Q Q3 Q ; 16 RxQch., K x R ; 17
XX
12 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD
(b l a c k ) de l a b o u r d o n n a is
18. Q K2 Px B
19. P B3
Now it is White who must be
careful. If at once 19 Q x Pch.,
K B i ; 20 P B3, Kt Q3 ;
21 Q B i, K t K4 ; 22 P B4,
P x P ; 23 B x P , Q Kt2ch
and 24 . . ., Kt (K) B2 ; re
taining the piece.
19. Kt (Kt) B3
20. P x K t K tx K P
21. Q x Pch. Q Q2
22. QxQch. K xQ
23. P B4
(w h i t e ) M CD ON NELL

Position before Black's 14th move. A new phase begins, each


player endeavouring to use the
(D ia g r a m i )
passed pawns.
B xK tch ., and 18 P x B with 23. QR K i
two pieces for the rook, but 24. P B5 B Qi
15 . Qx Q; 16 BxQ, B x 25. P -Q 6
BP ; with advantage to Black. Better was B K3. Now the
bishop cannot cross to the de
15. Kt K4 fence of the king.
A fine continuation threaten 25. P B5
ing both Kt X B and Kt x Pch. 26. P Kt4 KR B i
16. B Ktsch. 27. R B i
Blacks P Kt5 cannot be
This holds the extra pawn, long prevented, but the rook
but B K2 was probably will be needed here whether it
sounder. is or not.
16. P B3 27. P KR4
17. PxB 28. K t R3 B B3
29. B Kt2 P Kts
Not 17 P x P, Kt x P ch .; 30. K t B4
retaining the piece.
Not 30 R x P , B xP ch.
17. K tx K tP
30. P B6
Black must proceed with care. 31. K t K5ch. B x Kt
If P x B ; 18 PxP, winning 32. PxB P R5
back one of the knights with 33- QR Qi P - B 7ch.
the better game. 34. K R i P R6
MCDONNELL DE LABOURDONNAIS 13
Now 35 . . P K t6 ; is a while 38 .. ., R Kt8ch.; leads
serious threat, after which to no more than a draw after 39
White has to avoid both 36 . . . , R x R ,K t Kt6ch.; 40K R2,
P Kt7 Mate and 36 P x P, Kt P x R = Q c h .; 41 K x Q , K t
X Pch.; with Black winning K 7ch.; 42 K R2, K t x R ; 43
the exchange. B x K t , and the pawns will be
too strong; for example, 43 ...,
35. R Q3 R K K ti K K3 (or R K K t i ; 44 P
36. P Kt5 P Kt6 B6ch., P x P ; 45 P x Pch., K x
P ; 46 B x P, R K t7ch.; 47
(BLACK) DE LABOURDONNAIS
K x P , R x P ) ; 44 P B6, P
K t3 ; 45 P -Q 7 . R K K t i ;
46 K x P .
39. P K6ch.
To prevent a Black rook going
to K R i.
39. K Qi
Not K x P ; 40 R xK tch.,
K Q4 ; 41 R K 5ch., K
B 5 ; 42 R x P , and Blacks
last hope of attack is broken.
40. R (4) Qi
(WHITE) MCDONNELL In spite of the threat on
K K ti, White can play R x K t
Position before White's 37th move
for then 40 . . ., R Kt8ch.;
( D ia g r a m 2) 41 K R2, R x R (threatening
R R8ch.); 42 B B6ch K
37. P x P RxKtP B i ; 43 P Q7ch., K B2 ; 44
P Q8=Qch., R x Q ; 45 B x
Stronger than Kt X Pch.; 38 Rch., K x B ; 46 R KB4, but
RxKt, R x R ; 39 RxP, and he hopes now for more.
Whites pawns compensate for
the loss of the exchange. Clearly 40. P R7
the rook cannot be taken. Threatening to win by 4 1 .. . ,
38. R Q4 R (K) KKti R Kt8ch.; 42 K x P , R (1)
K t7ch.; 43 K R3, Kt
Whites last move has Kt4ch.; 44 K R4, R R7
brought Blacks attack to a Mate. If White replies 4 1K x P,
standstill. Insufficient would then the combination of R(6)
be 38 . . . , R x P ; 39 P B6ch., Kt3 with the mating threat
P x P ; 40 P xPch., K x P ; 41 forces White to play his pawns
R B4CI1., R B4 ; 42 R x K t, as in the actual game.
14 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

41. P K7Ch. K Q2 3. P k 4 pk 4
42. P B6ch. P x P 4. P Q5 P KB4
43. P xP ch . K x P 5. Kt QB3 K t K B3
44. P K8=Qch. R x Q 6. Bx P B B4
45- K x P 7. K t B3 PxP
Sooner or later he must take A very famous game, the
the pawn. If 45 P Q7, R (K) 50th of the series, continued
K K t i ; 46 P Q8=Q, R x Q ; 7 . . ., Q K2 ; 8 B Kts, B x
47 R x R, R Kt8ch.; 48 K x Pch. ; 9 K B i, B Kt3 ; 10
P, R X R ; 49 R KB8, K Q4 ; Q K2, P B5 ; 11 R Qi, B
and wins. However, Blacks K t s ; 12 P Q6, P x P ; 13 Kt
reply to the text move also Q5, K t x K t ; 14 B X Q , K t
decides the game. K 6ch.; and Black won magni
45. R K3 ficently.
46. R Bich. K Kt4 8. K t KKt5 O O
More decisive than K x P ; Daring, for after 9 P Q6 dis.
47 KR Qich., K K2 ; 48 R ch., K R i ; 10 K t B7CI1.,
B7CI1., K K i ; 49 B Kt7, R x K t ; 11 B x R , Black has
R (K) K K t3 ; 50 R - Q K ti, nothing better than P x P ,
K Q i ; etc. It is the virtual though his pressure in the centre
end of a very great struggle. is then considerable.
47. P R4ch. K Kts 9. 0 0 B Q3
48. B B3ch. Rx B 10. Kt K6
49. R x R K xR
50. P Q7 R Q3 Kt(5) x KP leads to an equal
51. K Kt2 R xP game. White finds that a pawn
52. R Bich. K Q6 on K6 exerts less pressure than
53. K B i K K6 one on Q5.
Resigns. 10. B x Kt
11. PxB K R i
12. B KKt5 Kt B3
13. Kt x P Q K2
GAME 2 14. K R i QR Qi
15- Q R4 P QR3
DE LABOURDONNAIS-MCDONNELL 16. B Q5 Kt Q5
2nd game of the 6th match and Sacrificing a pawn on the
78th of the series. Q side in order to force White
London, 1834. to give up his KP. The threat
is 17 . . P B3 ; 18 B K t3,
Q u e e n s G a m b it
P K t4; 19 Q x R P , R R i ;
1. P Q4 p - q4 20 Q Kt6, K R Q K t i; win
2. P QB4 P x P ning the queen.
DE LABOURDONNAIS MCDONNELL 15
17. B x K t PxB 22. BxP
18. B x P QxP
Clever but not best. After
19. QR K i
K t B6; 23 R K3 (P x Kt,
Reluctant to accept the offer. Q K4), Q R5 ; White is lost.
If 19 Q x P , P KB4 ; 20 K tx
23. R K3
B, R x K t ; 21 Q R4 (not Q
R3. Kt B7 ; nor Q Q3, P Not 23 K x B, Q R5ch. ; 24
K5 ), P K5 ; with a strong K K ti, K t B6ch.; 25 P x
position. Kt, R K tic h .; and mates.
With the text move White be
19. P KB4 gins to fight his way out.
20. K t B3
23. K t B6
Threatening Q x Kt.
The only move to continue
20. Q B3 the attack, but better was B
21. Q x P 03-
Better was R K3, for the 24. R x K t P x R
attack on his king is stronger 25. K xB R Q5
than is at first apparent. 26. Q B5 PxP
21. P K 5 He cannot prevent the bishop
22. Q B4 returning to the defence of the
king, for Q or R R sch .; 27
Now R K3 was essential. K Kti, R K t i ; 28 BxP,
with a solid position.
(BLACK) MCDONNELL
27. B x P R K K ti
Threatening 28 . . ., R
R5ch.; 29 K K ti (B R3,
R x B c h . ; and mates), Q
Kt2 ; 30 Q Q5, R K5 ; win
ning.
28. P B4
This loses the pawn. Better
was B R3, and if R R5 ; 29
Q k 3.
28. Q Kt2
29. R B2 Rx P
30. R K2 R K K ts
(WHITE) DE LABOURDONNAIS 31. B R3 R KB5
Position before Black's 22nd move. 32. R Kt2
( D ia g r a m 3) If Q K3 (to prevent the
i6 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

threatened checks on K ti and By this sudden counter


Kt3), Q Q5 would lead to attack (threatening R KKt3
positions similar to those in the and R R4 Mate, and later
text. another mate on KR8) Black
hopes to force 40 B x P , R x P ;
32. Q O5 ending the threat on the QR
33- QxQch. R x Q file, but he is one move too late.
34. R KB2
40. K K ti R Kt3ch.
After 34 B x P, R X Rch. ; 35 41. K B i R R3
K x R , R Q7ch. ; White could 42. K K i R R8ch.
not hope to win. 43. K Q2 R R8

34- P B5 Now Black seems to have


35. P R4 K Kt2 succeeded in his plan to halt the
36. B Kt2 QRP, and is in a position to
advance his own pawns.
Envisaging the advance and
possible queening of the QRP. 44- K Q3
Blacks reply prepares a subtle This unassuming move is a
counter to this plan. necessary preparation for yet
another plan to advance the
36. R K B i QRP.
37. P R5 R Q3
38. B Kt7 R B4 44- K -B 3
39. P R6 P B6
Hoping to induce White to
waste time capturing the QBP
(BLACK) MCDONNELL while he mobilises his K side.
Both players are still scheming
to win.
45. K t Qsch.
Apparently accepting the
bait, but actually continuing
the plan made the previous
move to bring the knight to
QR3 or QR5, cutting off the
Black rook.
45. K -K t4
46. Kt K3 R B3
The purpose of Whites 44th
( w h it e ) d e l a b o u r d o n n a i s
move is now clear; Kt B4
Position before White's 40th move. cannot be prevented, whereas if
( D ia g r a m 4) only 47 K t B2 had been avail
DE LABOURDONNAIS MCDONNELL 17
able, Black could have replied Cutting off the bishop and
47..., R(8) R4 or R5. threatening P B7. White is
47. Kt B4 P R4 now in difficulties and his next
move suggests that the best plan
If R R5 ; 48 P Kt3, R he can find is to play B B8 and
R8 (more point to Whites then sacrifice the bishop for the
44th; with the K on Q2, Black RP, with a draw.
could now play R R7CI1.); 49 P
Kt4, R R5 (aiming to get 55. B Kt7 P B7
rid of both Whites Q-side 56. Kt B4 R-K3
pawns for his rook) ; 50 K B3,
and only then Kt R5. Black Not P B 8 = Q ; 57 Kt
therefore proceeds with his own K3ch.
plans, though he stood a better
57. Kt Q2 P R5
chance of drawing by R x P ;
58. P Kt4
48 B x R , R x B ; 49 R x P ,
P R4. Finding the correct method
48. Kt R3 R Q8ch. just in time, which is to reopen
49* K B2 R Qx the diagonal.
50. P R7 K Kt5
51. P R8=Q R x Q 58. P R6
52. B x R 59. P Kt5 P R7
60. B x Pch. K Kt6
White is now two pieces 61. B R i R QKt3
ahead but Blacks pawns are 62. R K ti R K ti
becoming increasingly dan
63. P Kt6 Resigns.
gerous.
52. K Kt6 For after 64 Kt Bich., K
53. R B i K Kt7 R6 ; 65 R Kt3ch., the pawns
54- R - Q i p -b 3 begin to fall.
i8 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

P. C. F. de Saint-Amant (1800-1873) became the leader of


French chess after the departure of de Labourdonnais from
France. He won a short match against Staunton early in 1843 but
in the big return match later in the year, which was virtually for
the world championship, he was decisively defeated. An un
successful appearance at the Birmingham tournament of 1858
was his only other incursion into competitive play. Boncourt was
a strong French master who drew a match with Szen in 1835.

GAME 3 11. P R4 P R3
12. K R i R K K ti
BON COURTSAINT-AMANT 13. Q B2
Played in Paris, 1839. While White prepares an at
tack in the centre with P Q4,
Giuoco P ia n o which would at present be
answered by 13 .. ., B x B ; 14
1. P K4 P K4 14 Kt x B, Kt X KP.
2. B B4 Kt KB3
3- P - Q 3 13. P Kt4
14. B KKt3 P KR4
The normal gambit continua 15- P R 3 P R 5
tion of the King s Bishop's 16. B KR2 Kt KR4
Opening is P Q4. Now the 17. P Q4 P Kt5
game transposes into a quiet
version of the Giuoco Piano. The game has suddenly be
come exceedingly critical. If
3. B B4 White replies 18 P Q5, Black
4. Kt K B 3K t B3 gets a very strong attack by
5. P B3 B Kt3 P x K t ; i g K t x P , B x R P ; 20
6. 0 0 0 0 P x B , Q B3; 21 Q K2, Kt
7. B KKt5 P Q3 K2 ; threatening Kt Kt6ch.
8. P QKt4
18. B xB
The advance of the Q side
pawns in this opening was later Or 18 R P x P , B x B ; 19 Kt
strongly commended by Bird. XB, R x P ; with variations
similar to those in the actual
8. B K3 game.
9. QKt Q2 P KR3
18. PxB
10. B R4 K R2
19. RPxP RxP
Preparing to support a K side 20. PxP PxP
attack with R K K ti. 21. Kt B4 Kt Kt6ch.
BONCOURT SAINT-AMANT 19
A splendid continuation, White also plays to win ; he
ignoring the threatened loss of is a piece ahead and hopes to
the K P and continuing the capture another while Black
attack at all costs. goes after the condemned
bishop. Nevertheless 24 Kt x B
22. P x K t PxP still gave him better chances.
23. QR Qi
24. R R5
Now the form of Blacks 25. K txB
attack is clear. If 23 Kt(4) x P, Of course not 25 P x Kt, when
Kt x K t ; 24 Kt x Kt, R R5 ; R xB ch., brings Blacks attack
25 Kt B3, R x B c h . ; 26 Kt to one of its successful conclu
X R, Q R5 ; while if 23 Kt (3) sions.
x P , R R5 ; 24 K t x B , R x
Bch.; 25 K K ti, R R8ch. ; 25. RxBch.
26 K x R , Q R5ch. The best 26. K K ti Q B4ch.
line was 23 K t x B , P x K t ; 24 27. R B2 P x Kt
QR Qi, Q K2; 25 Q Q2 (not Not P xR ch. ; 28 K x R , P
R Q3>R - R i ; 26 R(B) Qx, x K t ; 29P x K t .
K K t3 ; 27 R Q7, R x B c h . ;
28 K K ti, R(Kt) R5, R 28. Kt X R
Q i ; 26 Q QB2, R R5. Now 28 P x Kt does not win
a piece because R R3 in reply
23. 0 K2 followed by the capture on his
24. P Kt5
KB2 leaves him the exchange
down. He must therefore take
(b l a c k ) s a in t -a m a n t the rook while it is still there.
28. PxP
29. P x P R K B i
30. Kt B3
And now not 30 P x K t , R x
R ; with a winning game, Black
brings all his pieces on to good
squares before recovering the
piece.
30. K t R4
31. Q K2 Kt B5
32. K t Ktsch. K K t3
33- K t B3
(WHITE) BONCOURT
If 33 K t x P , QxRch. ; 34
Position before Black's 24th move. Qx Q , PxQ ch. ; 35 K B i,
(D ia g r a m 5) K t K6ch. ; winning.
20 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

33 - R B5 40 Kt Q4, P K4; 41 Kt
34 - R -Q 3 PxRch. K6, K B4 ; 42 Kt Q8, R
35 - QxP QxQch. Kt2ch. ; 43 K B2, P K6ch. ;
36 . KxQ RxP 44 K Ktx, P K7 ; 43 R K i,
37 - R-Q7 R B5 R Q2 ; or 39 R x R , K x R ;
38. R xP 40 K Kt4, K B3 ; threaten
ing Kt Q3.
That this move, which looks
perfectly good, actually loses 38. P K5
shows how carefully Black has 39. K Kt3 PxKt
calculated the whole of the pre
ceding play. On the other hand A brilliant conclusion to a
after the better 38 K Kt3, R tremendous game.
B2 ; White can hardly save the 40. P x P P K4
ending, for if 39 R Qi, P K5 ; Resigns.

H. Staunton (1810-1874) was the only British player to become


world champion, a position he was generally considered to have
attained after his victory over Saint-Amant in Paris in 1843. His
record in match play is unequalled by any other British player,
among his other conquests being Popert, Cochrane, Horwitz,
Harrwitz and Jaenisch. He was a profound theorist, author of a
number of books, the editor of the first successful chess magazine
and a great pioneer, organising the first game by telegraph and
the first international tournament. A weak heart limited his
capacity for strenuous play after 1849.

GAME 4 4 - Kt QB3 P x P
5- Q xP Kt B3
STAUNTONSAINT-AMANT 6. Q -k3 Kt K4
7 - B Kt3 P b 3
2nd match game, 8. P -K R 3 P - Q 3
London, 1843. 9 KKt K2 P KR3
&

&

10. P B4
co
1

K in g s B is h o p s O p e n i n g
11. 0 0 B -K 3
1. P K4 P K4 12. p - b 5 BxB
2. B B4 Kt KB3 13. R P x B Kt K4
3 - P Q4 Q K2 14- R x P
Better was P x P at once. As a result of Blacks in-
STAUNTON SAINT-AMANT 21
different opening White has now 29. B K i P Q5
much the better game. 30. Kt Q2 K txK t
31. B x K t B Qi
14. R Q K ti
32. R K B i B Kt4
15. B Q2 Kt(4) Q2
16. KR R i Q Qi If B B2 ; 33 B B4, show
17. Kt R4 B K2 ing that he should have played
18. K t Q4 B Kt4 a move earlier.
Not 18 B R5,P QKt3. 33. B x B PxB
18. 00 34. P B6 P Kt3
19. B R5 Q B i If P x P ; 35 Q B5- N ow
20. K t Kt6 Black threatens R K6.
But now White rushes 35. Q -K B 3 P Q6
matters too fast, and Black is 36. Q Kt4 Q K4
able to counter the flank attack
with a thrust in the centre which
(b l a c k ) s a i n t -a m a n t
recovers the pawn. 20 Kt
KB3 first was better.
20. KtxKt
21. BxKt P B4
22. K t B3 Q B3
23. B R5 K txP
24- P QKt4
Losing a pawn, but if 24 R
K i, P Q4; 25 P B4, B
K t 4 ; 26 K t x B , K t x K t ; and
Black controls the K file.
24- P Q4
25. P B3 KR K i
(WHITE) STAUNTON
26. P Kt5
Position before White's 37th move.
Forced by the threat of P Q
( D i a g r a m 6)
Kt3. Black could safely con
tinue Q X P ; 27 B B7, QR
B i ; 28 P B4, Q x B P ; 29 37* R x P
R x P, Kt B3. The line chosen
is less decisive but good enough. Just as Black appears to be
It is now Black who calls the consolidating his advantage,
tune. White returns to the attack
with a splendid fighting com
bination which all but secures
A/. X ---XJ------------ U j the draw. Black cannot reply
28. Q - 3 P - Q K t3 37 . . ., K x R ; 38 Q Q7ch.,
22 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

R K2 ; 39 P x R dis.ch., K 62. R B 7 RKt6


K t i ; 40 Q Q8ch., K R2 ; 63. RKR7 R Kts
41 R B^ch., K R3 ; 42 Q 64. R QB7 P B5
B8ch., winning. 65. K Q4 P Kt4
66. R B5ch.K R5
37- Q K6ch. 67. RB6 KKt4
38. K R i Q K7 68. RB5ch.
39. R Kt7ch. K B i
40. R B7ch. K x R
4i- Q Q7ch. R K2 (b l a c k ) s a i n t -a m a n t

42. QxRch.
Of course if now 42 PxRdis.
ch., Q x Rch.
42. Q xQ
43. PxQdis.ch. K x P
44. K K ti
If 44 R Qi, R Q i; 45
R Q2, R Q5; 46 P QKt3,
K K 3 ; 47 K K ti, K - K 4 ;
48 K B2, K K5 ; 49 K K i,
K K 6 ; with advantage.
44- R Q i (WHITE) STAUNTON

45- R Qi R Q5 Position before Black's 68th move.


46. P -Q K t3 P Q7 ( D ia g r a m 7)
47. K B2 R Q6
48. K K2 RxKtP
49. RxP R QB6 68. K R3
50. R Q5 R x BP
51. RxKtP K B3 Up to this point Black has
played with exemplary pre
K B2, to hold the QKtP, is cision and has foiled all Whites
correct, as he discovers. efforts to ensure the draw, but
now he errs in allowing White to
52. R -Q 5 K -K 3 obtain a passed pawn. The win
53. R K ts K B2 ning line was 68 . . ., K R5 ;
54- R Q5 R QKt5 69 R B6, P B6 dis.ch.; 70
55. R - Q 7 < * .K - K 3 K x P , R B5ch.; 71 R x R ,
56. R QB7 K B4 P x R ; 72 K x P , K x P ; 73
57. R B7ch. K Kt4 P Kts, K Kts.
58. K Q3 R X P
59. K B4 R Ktsch. 69. P R4 R Kt6
60. K Q5 R Kt7 70. P R5 R Kt6
61. P Kt4 R Kt5 71. P x P
STAUNTON SAINT-AMANT 23
Better than 71 Rx Kt P, 82. RxKtP P B6
RxPch. ; 72 K B3, P x P. 83. R -Q B 5 R QB8
84. K -Q 5 P -B 7
71 R x Pch. 85. K B6
72 K B3 R Kt6ch.
K Q4 R Q6ch. The way White now shuffles
73
K K4 R QKt6 down the file without allowing
74
K B5 Black a' check is amusing. So
75
magnificent a struggle in an off
Now the draw is certain. hand match made a later set
match a virtual certainty.
75 - R Kt8
76. K - -B6 R B8ch. 85. K -B 3
77 - K - -K6 R QKt8 86. R B4 K K4
78. K - -b 7 R B8ch. 87. K B 5 K B4
79 - K - -K6 R K8ch. 88. R B3 K K5
80. K - -b 7 R B8ch. 89. K B4 K B5
81. K - -K6 K xP 90. K Kt3 Drawn.

B. Horwitz was one of the most eminent of the famous and


brilliant school of seven German masters, known as the Pleiades,
which flourished between 1836 and 1846. He resided in England
after 1845 and it was during this latter part of his career that he
was associated with Kling in the compilation of their famous book
of end-game studies.
H. E. Bird (1830-1908), a genial and popular British master,
played regularly in international tournaments between 1851 and
1899. A player of dashing originality, his success was limited by
a predilection for risky and unusual openings, his best results being
1st at London, 1879 and 1889, equal 2nd at Hereford, 1885, and
3rd at Philadelphia, 1877. He met both Morphy and Anderssen,
and contested matches with Steinitz and Lasker ; against Steinitz
in 1866, just after that player had become world champion, he
only lost by the odd game in 17.

GAME 5 R uy L opez

BIRDHORWITZ 1. P K4 P K4
2. Kt KB3 Kt QB3
2nd game, 1st round, 3. B Kts Kt B3
London tournament, 1851. 4. P Q4 KtxQP
34 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

Allowing White too much 16. Kt B3


scope. P x P was better. 17- Q R4
5. KtxKt PxKt If 17 R x Q , K t x Q ; 18
6. P K5 Kt Q4 R moves, P x K t ; recovering
7. O O the piece with a winning game.
An unnecessary gambit. Q 17. QxKt
x P was strong and took full 18. BxKt PxB
advantage of Blacks 4th move. 19. R K3 B B4
7. B B4 20. Q xP B Kt3
8. P-QB3 P-QR3 21. R Kt3 Q K4
9. B QB4 22. Q R4 Q xP

B K2, playing to win the Satisfied that he can hold the


centre pawn, is answered by threat to his bishop, for which
Q - R 5. he has an ingenious defence pre
pared. The likely looking KR
9. Kt Kt3 K i only gives a draw after 23
10. B Kt3 PxP P B4, Q K2 ; 24 Q R6,
11. KtxP O O Q B i ; 25 Q Kt5, Q K2
12. Kt K4 (not P KR3; 26QxBch. ).
Now and in the following 23. P B4 Q Q5ch.
moves White plays for attack at
all costs ; the more solid R K i Pinning the BP on the queen.
does not achieve all it might
because of his failure to take the 24. K R i QR K i
pawn on the 7th move. Black 25 - Q Kt 5 Q B7
defends skilfully after his initial Beautifully conceived. The
weak play. rook is to be forced off the KKt
12. Q K2 file, so that the queen will be
left undefended and a further
*3- Qr 5 P Q3
14- B Kt5 Q x P pin made possible on the diag
15- QR K i Kt Q4 onal. White cannot reply
R K K ti because of R K8.
By sacrificing another pawn
White has developed a danger 26. R -K B 3 Q -Q 7
ous attack and threatens Kt 27. P KR4 P B3
B6ch., winning the queen. A waiting move, but K Kt2
Black finds a brilliant defence. was better. He has another
16. Kt x B pretty defence against the ad
vance of the RP, which also
Now Kt B6ch., would lose hinges upon the pin of the KBP,
a piece. but he cannot put it into opera
BIRD HORWITZ 25
tion until P R5 leaves the An error. After K K2 ; 33
queen undefended again. P x B , R P x P ; 34 PxPch.,
Q x P ; Blacks extra pawns
28. P R5 R K4 should win.
(BLACK) HORWITZ 33. P x B QPxP
A graver error, and strange
coming from a famous end
game composer. Now the king
will be entirely exposed. Black
should not hope after his pre
vious move for more than a per
petual check; in playing to win
he loses. Correct was K x P ; 34
P x P (not R B6ch., which is
answered by K Kt2 ; 35 R
B7ch., K K t i ; and not by
K Kt4 ; 35 R(i) Bsch., K
Kt5 ; 36 R B4ch., Q x R ; 37
(WHITE) BIRD
RxQch., K x R ; 38 P x P ,
wins).
Position before White's 29th move.
( D i a g r a m 8)
34. P x P KxP
35. K R2 P K 5
Apparently turning the tables 36. R R3ch.K Kt3
entirely for if the queen moves, 37. R Kt3ch. K R2
RxPch. But though both If K R4 ; 38 R B8,
pawn advances are held White threatening R R8 Mate.
finds another gallant, if not
quite sound, method of keeping 38. R B7ch.K R3
his flag flying. 39. R B6ch. K R4
If K R2 ; 40 R(6) Kt6,
29. BxPch. R x B
threatening R(6) Kty.
Forced. If K Kt2 ; 30 P 40. R B8 Q Q5
R 6 c h . , K x B ( K R i ; 31 Q 41. R R8ch.
B6 Mate); 31 P x R dis.ch..
and 32 Qx Q . Prettily destroying Blacks
position. But Whites task even
30. Q Q8ch. R B i now presents difficulties.
Not K Kt2 ; 31 P x R, win 41. Q xR
ning the exchange. 42. R R3ch. K Kt5
43. R xQ K B5
31. QxRch. K x Q 44. R B8ch. K K6
32. P x Rdis.ch. K Kt2 45. K Kt3
26 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

K K ti was much stronger. 53. R KR6 P K7


Now Black comes almost within 54. R R2ch. K B8
reach of victory again. 55- K - B 3
45. P B4 The saving clause and a
46. R QKt8P Kt4 pretty one. If now P K 8=Q
47. R Kt6 P B5 or P B7 ; 56 R R i Mate.
48. R x R P P B6
49. R -Q B 6 K - Q 7 55. P K8=Ktch.
50. K B4 P K6 56. K K3 Kt Kt7ch.
51. R Q6ch. K K7
If P B7 ; 57 R Rich., K
If White had played 45 K Kt2 ; 58 R x Kt. A cut and
K ti, and 50 K B i, Black thrust game of exceptional bril
would have been forced into liance all through.
51 . . ., K B7 ; when 52 K
57. R x K t KxR
K2, wins.
58. P Kt5 P Kts
52. P Kt4 K B7 59. K Q3 Resigns.

von Heydebrandt und der Lasa (1819-1899), the most brilliant


and the strongest of the German Pleiades/ was prevented after
1840 from participating in competition play by his duties as an
Ambassador of the Prussian court. He always retained an interest
in the game, but an unfinished series against Staunton in 1853 was
his only play of a competitive nature.

GAME 6 Modem practice is Kt KB3.


Whites method of play is an
VON DER LASA-STAUNTON swered by Staunton with crush
ing logic.
2nd match game, 4- P Q4
Brussels, 1853. 5. B K t3 Kt K5
6. Kt K2 P QB4
K i n g s B is h o p s O p e n i n g 7. O O Kt QB3
8. P KB3 Kt Kt4
1. P K 4 P K4 9. K t B4 P B5
2. P Q4 P x P 10. B R4 B QB4
3. B QB4 K t KB3 11. K R i Kt K3
4- P -K 5 12. P QKt4 B Kt3
VON DER LASA STAUNTON 27
IfB xP ;i3 K txK t,B xK t; (BLACK) STAUNTON

I4Q xP.
13. K t x K t B x K t
14. P B4 B KB4
15. B R3 O O
16. K t Q2 P Q6
17. P Kt5 Kt K2
Safe enough, but better was
von der Lasas suggestion 17 ..
P x P ; 18 B x P, B x B ; 19
Q x B , Kt Q5 ; 20 Q Qi,
R K i. Staunton even recom
mended the sacrificial line
17 . . K t Q5 ; 18 B x R , Kt (WHITE) VON DER LASA
K7 (threatening Q R5 and Position before Black's 28th move.
Kt K t6 ); 19 Q K i, Q x B ;
( D ia g r a m 9)
20 P x P, P x P ; 21 B Qi, B
Q5 > 22 R QKti, Q R6.
now threatens 29 P x Pch., K x
18. P x P BxP
P > 30 Q Bsch.
19. R B3 R K i
20. B B2 BXB 28. R Q3
29. Q B3 P B3
If B Kt3 ; 2 1P Kt4. 30. R Kt3
21. Q x B Kt Kt3 If 30 P B5, K t B5 ; 31
22. R Qi Q B i R K t3, Kt Q6; 32 R x
K t x P was threatened. Pch., K R i ; and now if 33
Q x K B P .Q Kt8ch.
23. B Kt2 Q QB4
24. K t K ti QR=Qi 30. R(3)xP
25. K t R3 Q K2 The saving clause and a splen
26. R R3 P KR3 did one. 31 P B5 would now
27. R K B 1 Q B4 be answered by R K6, and 31
28. P K6 R x K t by. the beautiful move
In a difficult position White 0 - B 7.
produces a magnificent move to 31. Kt B2 Kt x P
make a fight of it. Clearly the 32. Q B3 Q B2
pawn cannot be captured with 33. R Kt4
out loss of a piece, and Blacks
Kt x P would now be answered Q x Kt would allow mate.
by 29 PxPch., K x P ; 30 R x His brave effort is now over and
Ktch. Moreover, White in turn Staunton winds up powerfully.
28 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

33 - p Kt4 37. Q Kt4ch. K B2


34. P Kt3 P KR4 38. Q x P QxKt
35. RxKt PxR 39. B x P Q Ksch.
36. QxRP Q R2 Resigns.

A. Anderssen (1818-1879) did not become prominent until he


was 30 years of age, but then rapidly became known as the most
brilliant combinative player of his time, and was regarded as the
world champion from his victory at the London tournament of
1851 until his loss of a match to Steinitz in 1866 ; the only break
in this period of supremacy was when Morphy was playing. Among
his other great tournament victories were London, 1862, and
Baden-Baden, 1870.
P. Morphy (1837-1884), the greatest master of the open game,
has claims to be regarded as the greatest player of all time. His
career was limited almost entirely to the years 1857 to 1859, *n
which time he defeated every player he met including Anderssen,
Lowenthal and Harrwitz. In style he was sound and deep but
capable of exceptional brilliance when opportunity offered. After
a meteoric career he retired completely, being afflicted with a form
of melancholia.

GAME 7 4. B R4 Kt B3
5 - P Q3
ANDERSSEN-MORPHY
Lines involving P B3 and
2nd match game, P Q4 were only developed
Paris, 1858. later.
5. B B4
R uy L opez
6. P B3 P QKt4
7. B B2
1. P K4 P K4
2. Kt KB3 Kt QB3 Better was B Kt3 to hinder
3. B Kt5 P QR3 Blacks P Q4.
Introducing for the first time 7. P Q4
the defence now named after 8. PxP KtxP
him. 9. P KR3 O O
ANDERSSEN MORPHY 29
10. O O P R3 (&LACK) MORPHY
11. P Q4
Anderssen prepares to attack
along the diagonal. The diag
onal could be opened without
allowing an isolated pawn by 11
Kt x P, Kt x K t ; 12 P Q4,
but the pawn is a bait in
Anderssens plan.
11. PxP
12. P x P B Kt3
13. K t - B 3 Kt(Q) Kt5
14. B K ti B K3
Refusing to be tempted. If (WHITE) AN D ER SSEN

14..., K t x Q P ( B x P ; 15 Kt Position before White's 19th move.


K 2, B Kt3 ; 16 P R3, Kt
(D ia g r a m 10)
O4; 17 Q B2, wins); 15 Kt x
Kt, B x Kt (Q x K t ; 16 Q B3,
B K 3 ; 17 P R3, Kt Q4 ; 18 with impunity, for if 19 R K i,
R Q i); 16 Q B3, B K 3 ; 17 Kt x P ; 20 Kt x Kt, B x K t ;
Q K4, and White has a very 21 B x B , R x R c h . ; 22 Q xR .,
dangerous attack. Zukertort Q x B . White therefore takes
has shown that Black can prob his courage in both hands and
ably just weather it, but over sacrifices the exchange. The only
the board it would be a danger alternative was B Q3.
ous venture.
19. BxR
15. P R3 Kt Q4 20. Q xB Kt K2
16. Kt K2 21. Kt(3) R4 Kt x Kt
Threatening Q B2. The 22. Kt x Kt Q Q2
alternative 16 Kt x P would be 23. BxP
answered by Kt B3 ; 17 Kt The counter-attack begins to
B3> K t x P . gather weight. A simple and
good reply was 23 . . . , B x P.
16. Kt B3
17. B K3 R K i 23- PxB
18. Kt Kt3 B B5 24. Q - B i B xP
[Diagram 10] What was good a move earlier
19. Kt B5 is now inferior, and on such
small nuances do success and
Morphy has now manoeuvred failure so often depend. The
himself into a position where the correct line, given by Zukertort
isolated pawn can be captured was 24 . . Kt R2 ; 25 Q x
30 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

RP, P KB3 ; 26 B R2ch., wins); 31 Q B6ch., K K2 ;


(Kt R4, R K8ch.; 27 K 32 Q xQR, with a probable
R2, R x B), K R i ; 27 Kt draw.
R4, R K K ti ; 28 B x R ,
K x B . Even so Morphys line 30. Q Q3ch.
is not obviously inferior by any 31. Q x Q PxQ
32. R Qi K B i
means.
Black has fought his way
25. Q x RP R K8ch.
26. K R2 Kt K5 through all Whites brilliancies
into an ending where he is the
27. B x K t
exchange ahead, only to find
And it is only this brilliant that White can nevertheless
continuation which shows up hold everything.
the weakness of Blacks 24th
33- R -Q 2 R(R) K i
move. Now if 27 . . ., R x R ;
White can force a draw by 28 34- P KKt4 R(i) K4
K t K7ch., Q x K t ; 29 B 35- P b 3 R K8
R7ch., or he can play an ending 36. P KR4 R -Q 4
with two minor pieces against a 37- K K t3 P R4
rook after 28 Kt x B, Q Q3ch.; 38. P R5 K K ti
39- K B2 R K i
29 Qx Q , P x Q ; 30 B x R .
Once again the simple text 40. K K t3 K R2
4i- K B4 R K2
move seems to leave White no
future. 42. K K t3 p b 3
43- K B4 R K i
27. R xB 44- K K t3 R K2
28. Q Kt5ch.K B i Drawn.
29. Q R6ch. K K i
30. K t x B Black has no target for his
rooks and he cannot play K R
And once again White finds 3 because of Kt Bsch.
a surprise move to keep his Equally White can do nothing
game alive. If now 30 . . . , Q x with his K side pawns so long as
Kt ( R x K t ; 31 R Kich., Black sits tight.
ANDERSSEN STEINITZ 31

W. Steinitz (1836-1900), a Bohemian Jew, was world champion


from 1866 to 1894, and the first great master of position play. He
was an outstanding match player, and besides winning against
Anderssen he won among others three matches against Blackbume,
two against Zukertort, two against Tchigorin, one against
Mackenzie and one against Gunsberg; he was finally beaten by
Lasker. His tournament record, though slightly less impressive,
included 1st prizes at London, 1871, Vienna, 1873, and New York,
1894, an equal 1st at Vienna, 1882, and 2nd prizes at Dundee, 1867,
Baden-Baden, 1870, London, 1883, and St. Petersburg, 1896.

GAME 8 Q Kt3 or K t Kt5 was pre


ferable, hindering Blacks cast
ANDERSSENSTEINITZ ling.

3rd match game, 8. P -Q 3


London, 1866. 9- B KKts K K t K2
10. QKt Q2 P k r 3
E v a n s G a m b it 11. B R4 0 0
12. Kt Kt3 B K t3
1. P K4 P K4 13- P KR3 B k 3
2. Kt K B 3 K t QB3 14- Q R -Q i
3. B B4 B B4
4. P Q K t 4 B x P Preventing P-Q4.
5. P B3 B B4
6. P Q4 P xP 14- Q -Q 2
7. 0 0 P Q6 15- B -Q 5 Kt Kt3
16. B K t3 Q R - K i
The Compromised Defence P B4 BxB
by 7 . . . , P x P, though possibly 17-
18. KPxB QKt K 4
playable, leads to too difficult a 19. K txK t KtxKt
game for over-the-board play. 20. Q -Q B 3 Kt Kt3
The text move has the advan [Diagram n ]
tage that White is denied the
square QB3 for his knight, a 21. P b 5
form of development which
seems essential if White is to get White has slightly the better
up a good attack. development for his pawn and
8. Q x P now starts an ingenious attack
which turns a material disad
But this makes even less of vantage to a material ad
the position than usual. Either vantage.
32 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD
(b l a c k ) s t b in it z
critical now owing to Blacks
mating threat. The text proves
to be merely loss of time which
puts his knight in chancery,
though the alternative 31 Q
Q5ch., is not entirely satis
factory after 31 . . ., K R i
(K R2 ; 32 Q Q3) ; 32 Kt
B7ch., K R2 ; 33 Q Q3 (Kt
x B , R x K t ) , R K5 ; 34 P
Kt4, B K2 ( Px Pe .p .; 35 B x
P, or R x K t ; 35 Qx B) ; 35
K t Q6, B x K t ; 36 Q x B .
K t B6ch.; 37 K R i, R
B 3 ; 38 Q Q7. Kt K4 ; 39
(w h i t e ) a n derssen
Q K t5 ,P K R 4; for Whites
Position before White's 21st move. extra pawn is of less value than
(D i a g r a m ii ) Blacks attacking chances.
31. B Kt3
21. PxP 32. R(4) Qi
22. K txP Q B4
R Kt4 would allow B x
If 22 . . ., B x K t ; 23 Q x B , Pch.; 33 R x B , R x R ; 34 K
R B i (R K2 ; 24 P Q6, X R, Q B7ch. ; 35 K B i,
P x P ; 25 B x P ) ; 24QXRP. Q Q6ch. (not P B6 ; 36 R
23. K txP R K7 Kt2); 36 K K ti, Q x K t ;
with advantage.
Both players go all out for
attack ; Black allows White to 32. R K3
win a pawn on the Q side rather Now Whites troubles are
than indulge in difficult and severe, for if 33 K t Kt5, R
elaborate defensive measures. QB3 ; 34 P KKt3, P x P ; 35
24. P Q6 PxP B x P , QxBch. White there
25. K t x P Q K3 fore offers the QRP to draw the
26. P QR4 B Qi Black bishop off the dangerous
diagonal.
If 26 . . ., P QR4 ; 27 K t
Kt5, threatening 28 R Q6. 33. P R5 B B4
[Diagram 12]
27. q- b 5 pb4
28. QxRP P B5 34 - P -R 6
29. B R2 K t R5
30. Q K t7 Q K t3 Black is not to be drawn, but
31. R Q4 now White has a chance of utili
sing his pawn which he seizes
The position is extremely in splendid style. If in reply
ANDERSSEN STEINITZ 33
(BLACK) STEINITZ K t ; 38 R K6, Q x P ch .; 39
Q x Q , K t x Q ; 40 R(6)xB,
K t R5 ; 41 R Q8, and the
threat to Blacks BP enables
White to draw.
37. KR K i RxRch.
38. R x R K R2
A move as subtle as Whites
defence has been fine. He sees
that the forced exchange of
queens is imminent and evolves
a plan to continue the attack
without the queen ; the im
(WHITE) ANDERSSEN mediate threat of R Qi is only
Position before White's 34th move.
subsidiary to his real plan.
( D ia g r a m 12) 39. Q K4 R B3
40. K t Kt5 R K3
3 4 . . . , B x K t ; 35 P R7, R The point, temporarily giving
K2 ; 36 P R8=Q, winning. up the bishop. The play on
R K2 both sides is most brilliant.
34-
The thrusts and counter 4i- QxQch. R x Q
thrusts are most exciting. Black 42. K t x B RxPch.
43- K R i RxBch.
delays the capture of the knight
until he has attended to the 44- K x R Kt B6ch
threat of P R7, White being 45- K Kt2 K t X Rch.
always hampered by the neces 46. K B i Kt Q6
sity of keeping his queen on the 47- K t B6
long diagonal. Now follows a difficult knight
end-game in which it is doubt
35- Q Q5ch. K R i
36. P R7 ful whether Blacks extra pawn
is sufficient to win.
White still cannot rescue his
knight because of the answer 47 K K t3
36 . . ., R Q 2 ; forcing the 48 K K2 K t B4
queen off the diagonal. He 49 K B3 K t K 3
50 K t K5ch. K B4
therefore sacrifices the QRP in
order to break out of Blacks 51 K t-Q 3
grip- A serious error, as P. W. Ser
geant has shown, for the knight
36. BxP
is soon reduced to abject help
I f R x P ; 37 KR K i , B x lessness, whereas after K t B4
34 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

it would retain its freedom of better was 62 K t Kt4ch., be


action. From this moment cause of K K7 ; 63 K t Q5,
Whites chances of saving the P K t6; 64 Kt B4ch K
game vanish. K8 ; 65 Kt Kt2ch P x K t ;
66 P x P, K t K 6 ; 67 P Kt4,
Si- P K t3 K K7 ; 68 P Kt5, K B6 ;
52. Kt K i K t Qsch. 69 P Kt6, K t B4 ; winning.
53. K Kt2 K -K 5
54- K Bx P B6 62. P Kt6
55- K Ktx P Kt4 63. K t - K t 5
56. K R2 P R4
Of course not 63 P x P , K
57. K - K t 3 Kt B4ch. k 7.
58. K R2 P - K t 5
59- PxP PxP 63. P Kt7
60. K K ti and wins.
Even now the White knight For after 64 K R2 (Kt R3,
cannot come back into play, for Kt Kt6), K K7; 65 K K ti,
if 60 K t B2, K Q6 ; 61 Kt K K8 ; 66 K t R3 (Kt B3,
Kt4ch., K K7 ; 62 K K ti, Kt Kt6 preventing K t K4),
P Kt6 ; winning. K t K6 (preventing K t
60. K -Q 5 B2ch.); 67 K t K ti (Kt Kt
61. K t B2ch. K Q6 5, K t Kts ; 68 Kt B3, K tx
62. K t R3 P), K t Kt5 ; 68 Kt R3, Kt
X P ; 69 K t B2ch., K Q7 ;
Atkins has shown that no winning.

J. H. Zukertort (1842-1888) was a Pole who lived in England


from 1871. He was a very gifted and very brilliant player but of
a nervous temperament and indifferent stamina. He scored quite
remarkable wins in tournament play, including 1st prizes at the
great tournament at Paris, 1878, and London, 1883, 2nd prize
at Berlin, 1881, and equal 2nd at Leipzig, 1877. He was for a long
time regarded as Steinitzs only great rival but in their two
matches, in 1872 and 1886, his stamina proved insufficient, though
he never understood why he failed to win.

GAME 9 Giuoco P ia n o
ZUKERTORTSTEINITZ I- P ^4 P K4
2. K t K B 3 K t QB3
1st match game, London, 1872. 3. B B4 B B4
ZUKERTORT STEINITZ 35
4. P B3 K t-B 3 Whites attack to continue in
5. P Q4 Px P the belief that the pressure can
6. P x P B Kt3 not be maintained.
Less aggressivethan the usual 14. R B2
B Kt5ch. as White can now 15. QR K i K B i
play 7 K t B3 and Black must
(BLACK) STEINITZ
give up all hope of playing the
QP forward two squares. It
should be remembered that the
Moller Attack, preventing
Blacks P Q4 even after 6 . . .,
B Ktsch. ; had not yet been
invented.
7. 0 0
Preferring to precipitate an
immediate crisis in the centre
rather than follow orthodox
lines.
7. KtxKP (WHITE) ZUKERTORT
8. R K i 0 0 Position before White's 16th move.
( D ia g r a m 13)
Less favourable would be
P Q4 ; 9 B x P - Q x B ; 10
K t B3, as the Black king is 16. P Q6
then still in the centre.
Continuing the attack with
9. RxKt P Q4 unabated energy. If 1 6 . . . , Q x
10. BxP Q xB P ; 17 R Qi, threatening R
11. K t B3 Q Qi Q8 Mate.
12. P Q5 K t K2 16. PxP
13. B K t5 P KB3 17. K t Q5 K txK t
14. Q Kt3
If now 1 7 . . . , P x B ; 18 R x
The force of Whites attack Kt, R x R (against R K8ch.) ;
begins to be revealed. If 1 4 . . . , 19 K t x R , B Q2 ; 20 K t x P ,
P x B ; 15 P Q6 dis.ch., R with advantage.
B2 ; 16 P x Kt, Q K i ; 17 Kt 18. QxKt
x P , B KB4; 18 R K s.w ith
advantage. The simplest reply Now not 18 R K8ch., Q x R ;
is 14 . . ., K R i ; avoiding all 19 R xQ ch., K x R ; 20 Q x Kt,
complications on the dangerous P x B ; and Black has two rooks
diagonal, but Black allows and a minor piece for the queen.
36 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

Moreover, White cannot con the bishops of opposite colours


tinue 21 K t x P because of R x indicate a probable draw.
P. After the text move White
26. K B2
threatens 19 QxPch., and if
27. K K ti P KKt4
Q x Q ; 20 R K8 Mate.
28. R K2 P QR3
18. B Q2 29. R Q2 R K i
Black has nothing better than An exchange of rooks would
to sacrifice the QP, for 18 . . ., be a surrender of his last thin
B QB4 is answered by 19 Kt chance of winning, and sure
K5, and 18 . . . , B B2 by 19 R enough White makes an error
K8ch., Q x R ; 20 RxQch., on his very next move, allowing
K x R ; 21 B B4, with severe Black to win another pawn or
pressure on Blacks position. force the bishops off.
19. QxPch. K K ti 30. K B2 BxP
20. Kt K5 BxPch. Si- BxP PxB
32. K x B k- b3
A counter-attack just in time
33- K - B 3 P KR4
and a very pretty one. If in
reply 21 K x B, P x Kt dis.ch. ; 34- P KR4
22 K K ti, Q X B ; winning. In a technically lost position
White is not prepared to allow
21. K R i B xR Black to proceed along known
22. Kt x R K x Kt lines. Instead he throws every
23 - Q Q5ch. K Kt3 possible complication in
The key move of Blacks de Blacks way. If 34 . . ., P Kt
fence. 23 . . ., K Bi would fail 5ch. ; 35 K B4, and Black's
against 24 B B4, threatening progress is barred, for if 35 . . .,
B Q6 Mate. R K K ti ; 36 R Kt2, or if
35 .. ., K Kt 3 ; 36 R Q5, or
24. R xB B B3 if 35 .. K - K 3 ; 36 K Kt5.
But here Black misses the 34. PxP
best line. P x B could at last be 35. R Q4 K Kt4
played for if 25 R Qi, R 36. R Qsch. K Kt3
B i ; 26QXB, Q x Q ; 27 R x 37. R Q6ch. K B4
Q, R B8ch. 38. R Q4
25. Q xQ R xQ Now if R Qsch., R K4.
26. B K3 Blacks king has therefore ad
vanced one rank as a result of the
The bishop has been en prise manoeuvre of the last three
for 12 moves, but the time has
moves.
come to withdraw it at last.
Black has emerged from his 38. P R6
hammering a pawn ahead but 39. R KR4 K Kt4
MASON ZUKERTORT 37
40. R x P P R5 49. K R2 R Kt3
41. K B2 50. K R3 K B4

The only move to get the Successfully and elegantly


rook back into play, for if 41 forcing the issue at last. R R3
R R2 then R Bich. ; 42 K was a much slower process.
Kt2, K Kts. 51. K x P R Kt3
52. K R5 R K3
41. R B i 53. R Rsch. K K5
42. R Kt3 R B7ch
43. K K ti P Kt4 54- K - K t 5
44. P R 4 A blunder, but the result is
inevitable after 54 K Kt4,
The second rooks pawn to be R Kt3ch.; 55 K R5, R
sacrificed. QB3 ; 56 K Kt4, K Q5 ;
57 K B4, K B5; 58 K
44. PxP K4, K Kt5 ; 59 R R i, P
45. R Kt4 R B8ch.
R4.
46. K R2 R QKt8
47. R x QRP R x Pch. 54. R K4ch.
48. K R3 R Kt6ch. Resigns.

J. Mason (1849-1905), bom in Ireland but taken to America in


infancy, sprang into prominence when he won the American
championship in 1877. His style was simple and elegant and on his
day he was the equal of the strongest players. His play was, how
ever, u n ev e n , his best results being 2nd at London, 1892, equal
2nd at Hamburg, 1885, 3rd at Vienna, 1882, and equal 3rd at
Bradford, 1888. He won matches against Bird, Mackenzie and
Blackbume. He was an extremely popular chess author.

GAME 10 4- P -Q 4 B K2
5- K t B3 0 0
MASON-ZUKERTORT 6. B -Q 3 P - Q K t3
7- PxP PxP
London tournament, 1883. 8. K t K5 B Kt2
Q u e e n s G a m b it D e c l i n e d 9- 0 0 P B4
10. B -Q 2
1. P OB4 P K3
2. P K3 K t KB3 A better development is by
3. K t KB3 P Q4 P QKt3 and B Kt2.
38 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

10. K t B3 Whites 16th move comes


11. K t x K t home to roost at last.
Better would be P B4. The 20. P K5 K t K i
text merely helps Black to mo
bilise his Q side by enabling him 20 . . ., B x R ; 21 BxB,
to dispense with the usual P would merely be a transposition
QR3 on his 13th move. of moves. The text is the only
knight move to win the ex
11. BxKt change, although other moves
12. R B i still give Black an advantage,
as for instance K t K 5 ; 21
B Kt5 will not delay Black, Q Kt4, P K t3 ; 22 B R6,
for then B Kt2 ; 13 R B i, B x R ; 23 B xR , K B x B ; 24
P -Q R 3 ; 14 B Q3, P B5 ; B xB , RxP.
leading in one move more to the
position reached in the actual 21. Q Kt4 BxR
game. 22. B x B RR3
Deciding after all that dis
r2. P B5
cretion is the better part of
13. B K ti P QKt4
valour. He plays to return the
14. K t K2 P Kt5
exchange in order to break up
15. K t Kt3 P QR4 Whites dangerous attack.
16. R K i
23. Kt R6ch. R x K t
The natural reaction to
Blacks Q side push is to play He would be better off play
P K4 as soon as possible, but ing to hold his material ad
the text surprisingly loses the vantage by K R i ; 24 Q B5,
exchange by preventing the QR P Kt3 ; 25 K txP ch ., K K t
from going to K i later. Much 1.; 26 K t x Q , P x Q ; 27 K t
better was Q K2. Kt7, R x P ; 28 B R6, K t
Kt2.
16. P R 5
17- K t B5 24. B x R Q R4
25. R K B i
Loss of material being in
White is forced back. He can
evitable, he plays for a K side
not play B Q2 because of P
attack.
Kt6; 26 BxQ, P x B ; winning.
17. P R6 25. Q xP
18. P K4 26. Q B5 P Kt3
Not 18 P x P , P B 6 ; and [Diagram 14]
wins. 27- Q Q7
18. RPxP In this apparently desperate
19. R B2 B R5 predicament White still finds
MASON ZUKERTORT 39
(BLACK) ZUKERTORT Kt4; 36 R Q K ti. He
therefore tries another tack, to
which White finds another neat
answer.
32. Q xP PxB
Forced, if he is not to remain
a piece down.
33. Q x Q R K ti
34- P Q5
If R K ti, then 34 . . ., P
Kt4 cutting off the bishop and
threatening P B8=Qch. But
(WHITE) MASON
White is out of the wood now
and actually a pawn ahead.
Position before Whites 27th move.
( D ia g r a m 14) 34. P K t8=Q
35. Q B4 Kt Kt2
36. P K6
means of attack. Black cannot
save his bishop, for if B R5 ; But this attempt to exploit
28 P Kt3, P K t6 ; 29 B his advantage is premature and
Kti. In addition the rook is loses the pawn at once. Some
attacked. thing like R B i first is in
dicated.
27. P Kt6
28. Q x B K t Kt2 36. PxP
29. B K ti P B6 37. P x P Q Kt6
38. Q B7 KtxP
Pretty play. White cannot
answer 30 B x Q because of P A violent battle has ended in
X B ; 31 Q Kt4, P R 8 = Q ; equality. By rights the analyst
32QXBP, QxRch. Now Black should be able to draw a line
recovers his bishop at least. and write Drawn, but White
30. Q B5 P B7 with stubborn obstinacy per
sists tediously in trying to pur
31. B x P Kt K3
sue the vanished win and, as so
He finds after all that P x B often happens, makes a slip and
probably only draws after 32 loses. The game continued 39
Q x B P , R K t i ; 33 R K ti, Q K7, Q Q4 ; 40 P KR4,
Kt K3 ; 34 B K 3, K t B2 ; Q B3 ; 41 R K i, R K i ;
35 B B i, or 32 . . . , R R i (to 42 Q R3, R Q i ; 43 Q
answer R K ti with Q x Rch.); QKt3, K B2 ; 44 B K 3, R
33 P Kt3, K t K3 ; 34 B QBi ; 45 B B i, Q B5 ; 46
K 3, Kt B2 ; 35 K Kt2, Kt Q B3ch., K K t i ; 47 Q
40 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

KB6, Kt Kt2 ; 48 B K t2 ,. 63. K Kt2 Q Ktsch.


Q KB2 ; 49 Q Q4, P R4 ; 64. K R i
50 R QBi, K R2 ; 51 Q
If K R2, Q B5ch.; 65 K
Q3 . Q B4; 52 Q Q4. Q K ti, Kt Kt2; 66 K Kt2,
B2 ; 53 Q K5, Q B2 ; 54
R B2 ; 67 Q Kt6, Kt B4 ;
Q -B 6 , R - Q i ; 55 Q -K B 3 ,
winning.
Kt B4 ; 56 Q K2, R QBi ;
57 P Kt3. And here is the slip 64. Q Q8ch.
though it is not necessarily 65. K Kt2 Kt Rsch.
fatal. 66. K R2
57. KtxKtP Playing the king to the 3rd
58. Q -Q 3 rank would allow mate in two.
Best was P x Kt, Q Kt3ch.; 66. Q Q3ch.
59 K Kt2, Q X B ; and Black 67. K K ti Kt B6ch.
can hardly hope to win. Now 68. K B i
White must lose a second
pawn. Now if K Kt2, Q R7ch.;
69 K B i (K x Kt, R B2ch. ;
58. Kt B4 and wins), Kt Q7ch. ; 70 K
59. Q K4 Q QB5 moves, R K2ch.; winning.
60. Q Kt7ch. R B2
61. Q Kt8 68. Q R3ch.
69. K Kt2 Kt Rsch.
White is still fighting and now 70. K R2 Q B i
threatens mate.
After this, which breaks
61. Q Ktsch.
Whites mating threat, posi
62. K R i
tional and material superiority
If K B i, then Q Q8ch. ; must tell.
63 K Kt2, with the same posi
71. Q Kt6 Kt B6ch.
tion as after the 65th move in
72. K Kt2 Q Ktsch.
the game.
73. K Bi R K2
62. Q x Pch. Resigns.
BURN MACKENZIE 41

G. H. Mackenzie (1837-1891) was a Scotsman who in 1863


emigrated to New York and became an American citizen. He was
an exceptionally brilliant player and besides being American
champion for many years, frequently played in European master
tournaments. H js best results were 1st at Frankfort, 1887 and
2nd at Bradford, 1888.
A. Bum (1848-1925) was one of the finest of all British masters,
though his quiet unobtrusive style caused him to be overshadowed
in the public imagination. Between 1870 and 1887 he only played
in England, but scored a continuous run of first prizes. Afterwards
competing abroad also he was strikingly successful, his best results
being 1st prizes at Amsterdam, 1889, and Cologne, 1898, and 2nd
at Breslau, 1889.

GAME 11 15. B K B i P KR3


16. P Kts K t R2
b u r n - m a c k e n z ie 17. P Kt3

4th match game, London, 1886. He has no objection to falling


in with Blacks plan since his
Q u e e n s P aw n G am e white squares can be protected
by his bishop, and the Black
I. K t KB3 P 04 knights retreat will allow White
2. P 04 K t KB3 to enforce a weakened Black
3- P k 3 P k 3 KP.
4- P - Q K t3 P B4
5- B Kt2 Kt B3 17. K t K t3
6. QKt Q2 P x P 18. B Q3 P B4
19. R K2
7- P x P B -Q 3
8. B Q3 B Q2 In order to play P B4.
9- 0 0 R -Q B i
10. P B4 0 0 19. K t B3
11. R K i Kt K2 20. Kt K i Kt K5
12. p - b 5 B K ti 21. P B4
13- P - Q K t 4 K t K t3 [Diagram 15]
14- P -Q R 4 K t B5
21. BxBP
In view of Whites decision to
play on his Q side majority, So far White has had de
Black seeks to provoke a target cidedly the best of it and is now
for his own attack on the other ready to resume his Q side
wing. operations. Black must there-
42 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD
(BLACK) MACKENZIE Kt, Q X R ; and though some
preparatory moves to strength
en Black's game may be pre
ferable first, the mere possi
bility of such a variation in
dicates the value of this move by
White. In addition it is the
easiest way of bringing the rook
to the defence of the other wing
if it is required.
27. K R2
28. B B2 R KKtx
29. Kt Kt2 R Kt2
30. B Kt2 P KR4
(WHITE) BURN 31. P - R 5 P R5
Position before Black's 21st move. 32. K t K 3
(D i a g r a m 15) So that if 33 PR6, P x P ;
then 34 RxP, threatening Kt
fore adopt fighting tactics if he xQ P.
is to have any counter-chances. 32. K K ti
22. P x B KtxKBP 33- P R6 P -K t5
23. Kt(2) B3 34- P x P RxKtP
35- B Q3 Kt Kt4
If R K3, Q Kt4ch.; 24 K 36. R R6
B i (K R i, K t B7 Mate),
Even better was 36 Q B i,
Q R 5; 25 R B3, Q x P
(threatening Q R8 Mate) ; 26 and after K t R6ch.; Black
B x K t , B P x B ; with a tre cannot play Kt B5. The
mendous attack. game now becomes most exci
ting.
23. KtxRch.
24. Q x K t B K i 36. K t R6ch.
25. B Bx 37. K R i Kt B5
38. Q Q2 K txB
To prevent Q Kt4ch., in 39. K t x Q P
reply to his intended Kt K5.
Just in time. After 39 Q X Kt,
25. P Kt4 B x P ; 40 K t x Q P , B x Q ; 41
26. K t K5 Q B3 Kt x Qch., K K t2 ; 42 Kt x B,
27. R R3 K x K t ; Black gets a good
A possible line for Black is game.
27 > K t B 6 ; 28 Q QB2, 39. Q Kt2
R x P ; 29 P x R , Q x K t ; 30
K t Kt2, K t K 7ch.; 1 B x Not Q Q i ; 40 R Q6, B
BURN MACKENZIE 43
Q2; 41 K t x B , R x K t (PxKt; sidered, and counter-attack is
42 K t B6ch.); 42 R x R , Q x his only chance. The text move
R ; 43 K t B6ch. threatens Q K6 K8ch., fol
lowed by P R6 Mate.
(B L A C K ) M ACK EN ZIE
45. R K8ch.
Not 45 PxR, RB8ch.; 46
K Kt2 (BxR, QxBch.; 47
K K t 2 , Q B8 Mate), P
R6ch.; 47 K Kt3, PBsch.;
or 47 K B2, Q B5CI1.
45- R xR
46. B R3ch
Missing his chance. P x R can
now be played for if Q K6 ; 47
Q Kt8ch., K K2 ; 48 K t
Q5ch., K Q2 (K Q i ; 49 Kt
X Q, R x Q ; 50 P Kt8=Qch.) ;
(W HITE) BURN
49 Q B7ch., K B3 ; 50 Kt
X Q, wins easily. Or else 46 . . . ,
Position before White's 40th move.
Q x K t ; 47 B R3ch., K Kt
( D ia g r a m 16) 2 ; 48 PxQch., but not 47 P x
Q, R K8ch.; 48 K Kt2, R
40. RxKP K 7ch .; 49 K B i, R K4
dis.ch. ; 50 K B2, R K 7ch.;
Another fine move, giving up drawing.
a piece to carry on the attack.
B x P is now prevented by the 46. K Kt2
threat of R KKt6. 47. KtxRch. K R i
48. P x R Q K6
40. Kt x Kt
41. Kt B6ch. K B2 Black has taken a long chance
and it has come off. White's
If K B i ; 42 P x K t , B x P ; reply is forced, for if 49 Q
43 Q Q6ch., K B2 ; 44 Q Kt2, Q K8ch.; 50 Q K ti,
Q5, transposing back into the B B3ch.
game. 49. B B5 Q B8ch.
42. P x K t BxP 50. B K ti B B3
51. K t B6
Not K x R ; 43 Q Q5ch.,
K K 2 ; 44 QxRch., K B i; He has no time now to queen
45 Q x R , winning. his pawn. A grand fight, even if
Black was lucky.
43. Q05 K Bi 51. BxQch.
44. P B6 Q Kt4
52. K t x B Q Kt8
Defence is no longer to be con Resigns.
44 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

I. Gunsberg (1845-1930), a Hungarian, spent almost all his


chessplaying life in England. His tournament successes, which
included firsts at Hamburg, 1885, and at London, 1888, secured
his recognition as a contender for Steinitzs world title. Unsuccess
ful in this, he concentrated on chess journalism and practically
retired from serious play.
S. Tarrasch (1862-1934), for all his failure to win the world title
from his compatriot Lasker, remains one of the greatest of all
chessplayers. His tournament record from 1884 to 1914 is studded
with prizes and even to an advanced age he remained a dangerous
competitor in International tournaments. His style, based on that
of Steinitz, was simpler and more logical, if less imaginative,
while his crystallisation of Steinitzs theories into precise dogmas
made him one of the greatest of chess teachers and profoundly
influenced the strategical appreciation of later players.

GAME 12 9 Kt B3, P QKt3. Now the


bishop is condemned to a de
TARRASCH-GUNSBERG
fensive role at best.
Frankfort tournament, 1887. 9. Kt B3 B Q3
10. O0 K t Kt5
F rench D e fe n ce
A premature attempt to
1. P K4 P K3 create weaknesses in White's
2. P Q4 P Q4 position. After Whites reply
3. Kt QB3 PxP he had nothing better than
4. K txP Kt KB3 1 1 . . . , B K2.
5- B -Q 3 11. B K K ts P KB3
More usual is Kt x Ktch. 12. B Q2 Q K2
13. P KR3 Kt R3
5. Q K t-Q 2 14. P B4
6. B K3 KtxKt
7. B x K t Kt B3 Threatening P B5.
8. B Q3 B -Q 2
14. P B3
The best development of this 15. P QKt4
bishop is on QKt2, and though
an immediate P QKt3 would Now he is in a position to
have been answered by 9 Q B3, attack Black on whichever side
he would have been better he castles, for 15 . . ., O O
advised to try 8 . . ., B K2 ; would be answered by 16 B x
TARRASCH GUNSBERG 45
Kt. Black must castle into attempts to break through on
trouble, for he cannot play the wing and Blacks to break
15 . . ., B x P ; to which Tar- through in the centre. 23 . . .,
rasch gives the answer as 16 P x R ; would still be fatal
B x B , Q x B ; 17 R K ti, Q because of 24 P x P, Q Q3 ;
Q3 ; 18 R x P , 0 0 ; 19 Q 25 R R4ch., K K t i ; 26 R
B2, P K B 4 ; 20 P B5, Q R8ch., K x R ; 27 Q Rsch.
Q4; 21 B B4, Q K 5; 22
Q B i, B B i ; 23 R QB7, 24. P x P PxP
P B5 ; 24 R K i, Q Kt3 ;
25 R x B , Q R x R ; 26 R x P , (b l a c k ) g u n s b e r g

winning. A long but convincing


analysis.
15. 0 0 0
16. R K i BxP
17. R K ti BxB
18. Q x B K K ti
So as to defend the QKtP
with the bishop, the threat
otherwise being 19 Q Kt2, B
K i ; 20 R x P .
19. P B5 B B i
20. R Kt3 Q QB2 (WHITE) TARRASCH
21. KR K ti K R i Position before White's 25th move.
22. R Kt6
(D ia g r a m 17)

The attack becomes fierce


and brilliant. If now 22 . . ., 25. R QR4 P K5
P x R ; 23 P x P , Q Q3; 24 26. Q R5 Q K ti
Q Rsch., and mates. Less 27. B x P B B4
strong was 22 B R6, R Q2 ;
but not 22 . . ., P x B ; 23 Q The culmination of Blacks
R5, Q B5 ; 24 P Kt3, and counter-play; all his pieces
Black must give up his queen come to life and White cannot
to prevent mate on his QKti. move the bishop because of
28 . .., R Q8ch.; 29 Kt K i,
22. P K4 R(8) x Ktch. Nevertheless,
23. R(i) Kt4 KR K i better was 27 ..., R 08 ch.;
28 Kt K i, K t B4.
Beginning counter-action in 28. R R6
the centre just in time ; the
threat is P K5, and it now be Attack and counter-attack
comes a race between White's continue in delicate balance.
46 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

Now White threatens mate in 31. R xR


two and if 28 . . P x R ; 29 32. Q xR PxR
BxPch. 33. Q x Pch. Q Kt2
28. R Q8ch. 34* Q K8ch. Q K ti
29. Kt K i R x Ktch. 35. Q K4ch. Q Kt2
36. P B6
Apparently turning the tide
in his favour, but White is not The key to his 31st move.
finished yet.
30. Q x R BxB 36. Q QB2
31. R x B 37. Q K8ch. Q K ti
The saving clause. 31 R x 38. Q -Q 7 Q Kt8ch.
Pch., Q x R ; 32 RxQch., K x
R ; 33 P B3, B Kt3 ; 34 There is no longer any de
Q Rsch., would leave him very fence to the threat of P B7.
problematical drawing chances.
The text gives up a piece but 39. K R2 Kt B4
wins the game. 40. P B7 Resigns.

J. H. Blackbume (1841-1924) was the greatest of all British


tournament players, and so dangerous that he was known as
The Black Death. No great player ever had a career at once so
successful and so long; his first International tournament was
London, 1862, and in his last, at St. Petersburg in 1914, he won a
brilliancy prize. His brilliant, ingenious style was unsuited to
match play ; among his best tournament results were 1st prizes at
London, 1876, Berlin, 1881, Hereford, 1885, equal 1st prizes at
Vienna, 1873, Weisbaden, 1880, London, 1886, and 2nd prizes at
London, 1872, Nuremburg, 1883, and Manchester, 1890.

GAME 13 Irregular but playable. There


is nothing for White in 3 K t
MACKENZIEBLACKBURNE K 5, B -R 4 .
Bradford tournament, 1888. 3. P K 3 P k 3
4. B K2 Kt KB3
Q u e e n s P a w n G am e
5. P QKt3 P B4
1. Kt KB3 P Q4 6. B Kt2 Kt B3
2. P Q4 B Kt5 7. QKt Q2 R B i
MACKENZIE BLACKBURNE 47
Now Black is playing the 22. Kt KB3
Pillsbury Attack with the 23. P B3 P x Pch.
colours reversed. 24. KtxP P Kts
25. Kt R4 P B5
8. O O PxP
26. B Q3 Kt R4
9. PxP B -Q 3 27. Kt Kt6 P B6ch.
10. P B4 0 0
11. R K i P KR3 The position is now most
complicated and both players
But here he loses time. Better
are going all out to win. Black
was Q K2. is not content to force the draw
12. P QR3 Kt Q2 by 27 . . ., P x P ; 28 K t x R ,
13. P B5 B B5 Kt Bsch.; 29 K K ti (K
14. P Kt4 P KKt4 Ri, P Kt7ch.; 30 K Kti,
Q R3 ; 31 Q x Pch., K x K t ;
The point of his n th move. 32 B B2, Kt K7ch.; 33 R x
But though the attack, espe Kt, QxPch. ; wins), Kt R
cially in Blackbumes hands, 6ch.; 30 K Kt2, Kt B^ch.
may become dangerous, it Any attempt by White to side
creates a serious weakness on his track this variation fails, as for
K side, and White remains with example 28 Q x P (PxP, R
a solid Q side pawn majority B6), Kt Bsch; 29 K Ri,
once the attack is broken. P Kt7ch.; 30 K Kti, Kt
15. Kt B i Q B3 xB .
16. P Kt3 28. K B2 R KB3
This leads him into a very 29. Q B2 P Kt3
involved defence. Simpler was
Black now wants to force
16 P R3, B R 4 ; 17 Kt (3)
White to play P B6, for
R2.
though this will give him a
16. B K ti strong passed pawn, it blocks
17. Kt K3 P KR4 the Q side to any activity by
An ingenious continuation, the pieces.
for if in reply 18 K t x B then 30. QR Qi B Q3
P x K t ; 19 Kt Q2, K t x Q P ; 31. P B6 Kt B2
threatening Kt xBch., or Kt 32. B QBi R B2
B6ch. 33. P QR4 B Kts
18. K Kt2 Q Kt2
Preventing P R5 and so
19. KtxB PxKt
keeping the Q side blocked.
20. Kt K ti P B4
21. P Kts Kt Qi 34. R R i Kt Q3
22. R K ti
Now he returns to his K side
Black threatened 22 . . ., Kt attack with the idea ultimately
x P ; 23 P xKt , Q xB. of posting a knight on his K5.
48 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

35. Kt K5 Kt B4 Rch.; 43 R x Kt, R KKt2 ;


36. BxKt 44 Q Kt3 (P B7, R x P ; 45
Q Kt6ch Q x Q ; 46 K t x Q ,
Virtually forced, for if 36 R B7ch.; wins), Q x B P ; 45
B Kt2, then K t R5 ; 37 Q x B, P K t6ch.; winning.
P x K t , P Kt6ch.; 38 P x P ,
Q x P c h . ; 39 K B i, R K 40. P R4 R xB
Kt2 ; 40 P B7, Q Kt7ch. ; 41. P x R Kt Kt6ch.
41 Q x Q, P x Q dbl.ch.; 42 K 41. K B2 Kt Ksch.
K ti, P x R = Q c h . ; 43 K x Q ,
R x P ; winning. He has sacrificed the ex
change one move too late, for
36. RxB now after 42 .. . , Kt x Rch.; 43
37- Q Q3 Kt B3 R x K t , he has nothing better
38. B B4 Kt Ksch. than 43 . . ., Q Kt2 ; 44 Q
39. K - B i Kt6, or 43 . . . , Q x Q ; 44 Kt x
Q, B B 6 ; 44 K K3, holding
(b l a c k ) b l a c k b u r n e
everything.
43. K K3 R KKt2
44. P KR5
Now White fights back a-
gainst the dangerous passed
pawns by threatening to force
the rook off the Kt file.
44- B Q3
45. P R6 B x Kt
The persistence with which
Black keeps up his attack is as
remarkable as it is brilliant.
(WHITE) M ACKENZIE Now if 46 P x R, B x B P ch.; 47
Position before Black's 39th move. K x B , Q B4ch. ; 48 K K3,
( D ia g r a m 18)
Q Kt4 Mate.
46. Q P x B R KB2
39. Q R2 Now the threat is Q B4.
Though this threatens 40 . . . , 47. R R5 P Kt6
Q R6ch.; 4 1K K ti, Q Kt7
Mate, the square KR3 would be Making a last determined
even stronger for the queen, and effort to win, whereas after the
a better line was 39 . . ., R x B ; more natural P B7 he could
40 P x R , Q R 3 ; 41 P R4, hardly lose; for example, 48
Kt Kt6ch.; 42 K B2, K tx Q K2, P K t6; 49 Q K t
WEISS TCHIGORIN 49
4ch., K R i ; 50 R QBi, Kt break the whole attack by 52
B3; 51 P x K t , Q Ksch. ; R x K t , P x R ; 53 QxPch.
52 K Q2, P K t7; 53 P Black had no better reply than
B7, P B8 = K tc h .; 54 R x Kt, 51 . . ., R B4; after which
P x R = K t c h , or 48 Q K2, 52 R xK t, P x R; 53 Q Q8ch.,
Q K t3 ; 49 R (Q )-K R i, P - K R2 ; 54 P B7, wins.
Kt6 ; 50 R(i) R4, K R2.
51. R B6
As it turns out, the safer P B
52. P R7ch. K R i
7 was a better line.
53- P B7
48. K xP RxPch.
The passed pawn now comes
The point of his previous in with devastating effect.
move. If in reply 49 K x R ,
then Q B2ch.; 50 K Kt4 53- QxBP
(K K3, Q B7 Mate), Kt 54. Q x R Q B4ch.
B7ch.; 51 K x P , K t x Q ; win 55. K R i Q KB7
ning. Fighting to the bitter end,
49. K Kt2 R B7ch. but the game is past saving now.
50. K K ti Q KB2
51. R R4 56. Q x Q KtxQch.
57. K Kt2 K txR
Now White threatens to 58. K x P Resigns.

M. Weiss (1857-1927), during the few years in which he partici


pated in master chess was a frequent prizewinner. His biggest
success was in his last tournament when he tied for 1st prize at
New York, 1889. He was a Hungarian.
M. I. Tchigorin (1850-1908) was the greatest Russian master of
the second half of the nineteenth century. His aggressive un
orthodoxy secured him many prizes, of which his tie for 1st prize
at New York, 1889, was one of the most noteworthy. He unsuccess
fully contested two matches with Steinitz for the world title.

GAME 14 R u y L opez
1. P K4 P K4
WEISSt c h ig o r in 2 Kt KB3 Kt QB3

New York tournament, 1889. ^ B R4 Kt B3


Tie Match, 1st game. 5. K t B3 B Kt5
50 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

Preferring to try for a trans 15. Px.P PxP


position to the Four Knights 16. Q -K 2 Q -B 3
Game rather than defend
Preventing White from play
against the Ruy Lopez by P
ing Q B i R3
QKt4 or P Q3. However, he
finds next move that he has to 17. 0 00 Kt B5
revert to the Ruy Lopez after 18. B x Kt Q x Bch.
all. 19. Kt Q2
6. Kt Q5 B K2 If 19 K Kti, B x P . Black
has now managed to obtain the
For if K t x P ; 7 Q K2, Kt initiative, and in what appears
B3 ; 8 Kt x P, with a good to be a solid position he pro
game. duces a series of tactical threats
7. P Q3 P Q3 in order to reinforce and in
8. K t x B QxKt crease his advantage.
9. P B3 P R3 19. K Kt2
10. P KR3 0 0 20. P B3 B K3
11. P KKt4 21. B Kt3 R R i
22. R R i Kt B3
This advance, indicating a
23. K K ti B Q2
determination to play for a win
at all costs, is only possible Threatening 24 . . ., K t x
because he has reserved the K t P ; 25 P x Kt, B x P ; 26
option of castling on the Q side. Q Kt2, B x R ; which would
at present be answered by 25
11. Kt KR2 BxB.
To prevent P Kt5. If 11. . . , 24. R(Q) K ti P Kt4
P KKt4 ; 12 P R4, B x P ; 25. Kt Bi P R4
13 P x P , securing open files 26 . P R3 P Kt5
against Blacks king. 27. BP x P PxP
12. R K K ti Kt Qi 28. R xR
13. B K3 Not 28 P x P , R R8ch.; 29
K x R, Q B8ch. ; 30 K R2,
Not so good now would be 13 R R ich .; 31 B R4, B
P Kt5,P KR4; 14 P Kt6, K3CI1. ; 32 P Kt3, R x B
PxP; 15 R x P , B x P ; 16 Mate. Whites position is now
B R6, Kt K3 ; threatening seen to be exceedingly precari
B Kt 5: ous ; he gains a pawn which is
of little value and loses the K R
13. Kt K3
file.
14. P R4 P KKt4
28. R xR
Forced at last, but White is 29. PxP R R6
now unable to derive any ad 30. B Qi B Kt4
vantage from it. 31. Kt K3 K B i
WEISS TCHIGORIN 51
Threatening 32 . . K tx (BLACK) TCHIGORIN

K P ; 33 B P x K t , R x K t ;
which would at present be
answered by 33 K t Bsch.
32. K t B4 R R7
33. R Kt2 R R8
34. K B2 P Q4
35. K t R3
Black is fighting all the time
to establish an advantage. If
now 35 P x P, K t x P ; 36 K
Kt3 (QxP, Q x Q ; 3 7 K t x Q ,
Kt K6ch.), B x K t c h . ; 37 P
xB, Kt K6; 38 R B2, R
x B ; winning. (W HITE) W EISS

Position before Black's 40th move.


35* B B3
(D ia g r a m 19)
36. P Kt5 B Kt2
37. R B2
A magnificent counter-attack
The threat now was 37 . . ., which comes within an ace of
P x P ; 3 8 Q P x P , K t x K P ; 39 winning.
P x Kt, B x P ch.; 40 K K t3,
B x R ; 41 Q x B , R x B ; and 41. K Kt2
wins. 42. Q x Pch. KxR
43. Q x Ktch. K K ti
37. R Kt8 44. K x R Q B7
38. Q -Q 2 Q Kt6
39. R R2 PxP It is Black now who must
40. QP x P fight for a draw, since he must
[Diagram 19] come out a pawn down.

40. R xB 45. Kt B2 Q B8ch.


46. K Q2 QxKtP
Now White had a threat of 47. P Kt4 B R3
Q Q8ch., followed by Q R 48. Q Q8ch. K R2
8ch. The text move is a fine 49- Q xP Q Q6ch.
attempt to force the win. If in 50. K B i QxBP
reply 41 K x R then Q x Pch.; 51. QxP QxKtP
42 R K2 (K B i, Q B8ch. ; 52. Q B5ch.
43 Q Qi. Q K Bsch.; 44 R
Q2, K t x KP), B x P ; 43 Q - Q Even with the queens off,
8ch., K K t2 ; 44 Q x P , Kt White cannot quite force a win.
x P ; with a dangerous attack.
52. Q xQ
41. R R8ch. 53- P x Q K Kt2
50 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

Preferring to try for a trans 15. Px.P PxP


position to the Four Knights 16. Q -K 2 Q -B 3
Game rather than defend
Preventing White from play
against the Ruy Lopez by P
ing Q B i R3
QKt4 or P Q3. However, he
finds next move that he has to 17. O O O Kt B5
revert to the Ruy Lopez after 18. B x Kt Q x Bch.
all. 19. Kt Q2
6. Kt Q5 B K2 If 19 K K ti, B x P . Black
has now managed to obtain the
For if Kt x P ; 7 Q K2, Kt initiative, and in what appears
B3 ; 8 Kt x P, with a good to be a solid position he pro
game. duces a series of tactical threats
7. P Q3 P Q3 in order to reinforce and in
8. KtxB QxKt crease his advantage.
9. P B3 P R3 19. K Kt2
10. P KR3 0 0 20. P B3 B K3
11. P KKt4 21. B Kt3 R R i
22. R R i Kt B3
This advance, indicating a
23. K K ti B Q2
determination to play for a win
at all costs, is only possible Threatening 24 . . ., Kt x
because he has reserved the KtP ; 25 P x Kt, B x P ; 26
option of castling on the Q side. Q Kt2, B x R ; which would
at present be answered by 25
11. Kt KR2 BxB.
To prevent P Kt5. If n ..., 24. R(Q) K ti P Kt4
P KKt4 ; 12 P R4, B x P ; 25. Kt B i P R4
13 P x P , securing open files 26. P R3 P Kt5
against Blacks king. 27. BP x P PxP
12. R K K ti Kt Qi 28. RxR
13. B -K 3 Not 28 P x P, R R8ch.; 29
K x R, Q B8ch. ; 30 K R2,
Not so good now would be 13 R R ich .; 31 B R4, B
P Kt5,P KR4; 14P Kt6, K3ch.; 32 P Kt3, R x B
PxP; 15 R x P , B x P ; 16 Mate. Whites position is now
B R6, Kt K3 ; threatening seen to be exceedingly precari
B Kt 5; ous ; he gains a pawn which is
of little value and loses the KR
13. Kt K3
file.
14. P R4 P KKt4
28. RxR
Forced at last, but White is 29. PxP R R6
now unable to derive any ad 30. B Qi B Kt4
vantage from it. 31. Kt K3 K B i
WEISS TCHIGORIN 51
Threatening 32 . . ., Kt x (BLACK) TCHIGORIN

K P ; 33 BP x Kt, R x K t ;
which would at present be
answered by 33 Kt Bsch.
32. K t B4 R R7
33. R Kt2 R R8
34. K B2 P Q4
35. Kt R3
Black is fighting all the time
to establish an advantage. If
now 35 P x P, K t x P ; 36 K
Kt3 (QxP, Q x Q ; 37 Kt xQ,
Kt K6ch.), B x K t c h . ; 37 P
xB, Kt K 6; 38 R B2, R
x B ; winning. (W HITE) W EISS

Position before Black's 40th move.


35* B B3
( D ia g r a m 19)
36. P K ts B Kt2
37. R B2
A magnificent counter-attack
The threat now was 37 . . ., which comes within an ace of
P x P ; 3 8 Q P x P , K t x K P ; 39 winning.
P x Kt, B x Pch.; 40 K Kt3,
B x R ; 41 Q x B , R x B ; and 41. K Kt2
wins. 42. Q x Pch. K xR
43. Q x Ktch. K K ti
37. R Kt8 44. K x R Q B7
38. Q Q2 Q Kt6
39. R R2 P xP It is Black now who must
40. QP x P fight for a draw, since he must
[Diagram 19] come out a pawn down.

40. R xB 45. Kt B2 Q B8ch.


46. K Q2 Q x KtP
Now White had a threat of 47. P Kt4 B R3
Q Q8ch., followed by Q R 48. Q Q8ch. K R2
8ch. The text move is a fine 49. Q xP Q Q6ch.
attempt to force the win. If in 50. K B i Q x BP
reply 41 K x R then Q x P ch.; 51. Q xP QxKtP
42 R K2 (K B i , Q B8ch.; 52. Q Bsch.
43 Q Qi. Q KBsch. ; 44 R
Q2, K t x KP), B x P ; 4 3 Q - Q Even with the queens off,
8ch., K K t 2 ; 44 Q x P , Kt White cannot quite force a win.
x P ; with a dangerous attack.
52. Q xQ
41. R R8ch. 53. P x Q K Kt2
52 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

54. K Q2 K B3 K B5, B R i ; White can


55. Kt Q4 K K4 only advance his pawn with the
56. K B3 P B3 help of his king or his knight,
Drawn and the king is tied to the
knight and the knight to the
For after 57 P Kt5, B BP. A great game up to the
Kt2 ; 58 K B4, B Q4ch ; 59 very last situation.

H. N. Pillsbury (1872-1907), an American, was one of the


greatest players of his time and his premature death was a tragic
loss. He sprang to fame by winning the Hastings tournament,
1895, ahead of almost all the worlds masters. His chess was
marked by the will to win on all possible occasions.

GAME 15 the advantage of which he was


the first to propound as a
PILLSBURY-TARRASCH theory.

Hastings tournament, 1895. 11. R K i


The subsequent course of the
P il l s b u r y A tt a c k
game suggests that this is loss of
time.
I. P -Q 4 P-.Q4
2. P-QB4 P k 3 11. p- b 5
3- Kt QB3 Kt KB3 12. B Kti p- q r 3
4- B Kt5 B K2 13. Kt K5 P Kt4
5- Kt B3 QKt Q2 14. P B4 R K i
6. R Bi 0 0 15. Q B3 Kt B i
7- p- k 3 p QKt3 16. Kt K2 Kt K5
8. P xP P xP 17. BxB R xB
9- B Q3 B Kt2
With a view to doubling
10. 0 0 P b 4
rooks.
Both players are on familiar
18. BxKt
ground, Pillsbury playing the
variation of the Queens Gam A rather surprising move
bit Declined (4 B-Kts) named since it gives Black more free
after him, and Tarrasch playing dom, but in return he secures
for a queen side pawn majority, the free use of his KKt3 and
PILLSBURY- 53
blocks any frontal attack on his Kt6ch., B x K t ; 33 P x B, with
weak KP. a winning game ; for example,
33 . . ., P R3; 34 K t x R P
18. PxB (threatening mate in two), P x
19. Q Kt3 P B3 K t ; 35 QxPch., K K t i ; 36
Safe enough now that Whites R B4, and 37 R R4, or again
K B is gone, and at the same 33..., Kt B i ; 34K t x P , P x
time both driving White from K t (P R3 ; 35 K t X R, win
his outpost and forestalling any ning easily); 35 R x P , K
attack by P B5 B6. K t i ; 36 R B7.
20. Kt Kt4 K R i 31. Kt B i P B6
21. P B5 Q Q2 Now it is Blacks turn again
22. R B i R Qi and he forces a dangerous
Black loses a little time with passed pawn.
this rook. As he will soon have 32. P QKt3 Q B3
to defend his KP a third time, 33. P K R 3 P -Q R 4
QR K i at once was better. 34. Kt R2 P R5
23. R B4 Q Q3 35- P Kt4 PxP
24. Q -R 4 R (Q )-K i 36. P x P R R i
25. Kt K t3 B Q4 Considering that he has only
Threatening P Kt5, which to win Whites QKtP to have
White only manages to delay an overwhelming game; yet
for one move by threatening there is such latent power in
the KP. Whites attack that P R3
would be safer.
26. K t B2 Q B3
27. R B i P Kt5 37. P K t5 R R6
28. K t K2 38. Kt Kt4
[Diagram 20]
The drama begins to develop.
Against Blacks threats on the 38. BxP
Q side, White must bring back The correct line was to take
this knight to cover his QBi. the pawn with the rook, since
28. Q R5 after the exchange the bishop
29. K t Kt4 Kt Q2 could return to the defence
whereas the rook cannot. But
Not yet Q X P because of 30 Black is still underestimating
K t x P , P x K t ; 31 QxPch., Whites chances.
winning.
39. R KKt2
30. R(4) B2 K K ti
A threat again at last, though
And again not Q X P because it seems to have come almost
of 31 Kt B4, B B2 ; 32 Kt too late. The intention is to
54 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD
(b l a c k ) TARRASCH
Now he must prevent 46 R
K K ti and 47 Q R4 Mate.
46. RKKti Q x B P
47- Q R4ch. Q - R 4
48. Q B4ch. Q Kt4
49- R xQ PxR
50. Q Q6ch. K R4
5i- Q xK t P B7
The last action of the hard
won passed pawn is honourable
hari-kari. This famous game is
unequalled for the breathless
ness of its split-second timing.
(w h i t e ) P i l l s b u r y
52. Qx P M a te
Position before Black's 38th move.
(D i a g r a m 20)

play 40 P x P , K txP ; 41
KtxK tc h. GAME 16

39- K R i STEXNITZPILLSBURY
40. P x P PxP
St. Petersburg tournament,
Not K t x P ; 41 Kt K5, 1896.
Q K i ; 42 K t Kt6ch.
41. K txB P etro ff D efen ce

The key to his plan. Blacks 1. P K4 P K4


piece on his QKt6 is to be vir 2. K t KB3 K t KB3
tually out of the game. 3- P Q4
41. RxKt Steiriitzs own method of
42. K t R6 R Kt2 treating the Petroff Defence,
The only move against R introduced into master play for
Kt8 Mate, for if R K i ; 43 the first time in this game.
Kt B7 Mate. 3- PxP
43. RxR K xR 4. P K5 K t K 5
44- Q Kt3ch K x K t 5. Q K2
He cannot play K B i ; 45 In another game against the
Q Kt8ch., K K2 ; 46 Q x R . same opponent in the same
tournament Steinitz tried 5
45- K Ri Q Q4 Q x P , P Q4; 6 P x P e.p..
STEINIT#fclLLSBURY 55
K tx QP ; 7 B Kt5, and again fore accept the offer of the ex
ultimately won. change as his best chance, and
the game becomes intensely
5. B Ktsch.
exciting.
Hoping to exchange his
11. Kt x Pch.
knight on his Q7, White being
12. K K i K txR
unable to play 6 P B3 because
13. P x P Q Kich.
of P x P ; 7 Q x K t , P x P dis.
14. B K2 P B5
ch. ; 8 Q x B , P xB = Q ch .
6. K Qi P Q4 Trying to bring all his pieces
7. P x P e . p . P KB4 to bear by B Kt5. Should
8. K t K ts White reply 15 P R3, the
cornered knight gets out.
Though this wins a piece by
the threats of Q B4 and P 15. K B i B Q2
KB3, Steinitz had previously 16. K t Q2 Kt K4
condemned it as leading to a
lost game. Another attempt to extricate
his knight by 17 . . . , K t K ts >
8. 00 and if 18 B x K t , B K t4ch.
9. Q B4CI1. K Ri White cannot answer the text
10. Q xB move with 17 K K ti because
of Kt K ts ; 18Q K B 3 ( B x
A new discovery, previously
Kt, Q K8ch.; or K x Kt, Q x
not considered because of the
B), Q K6ch.; i 9 Q x Q ( K x
answer KtxPch. The more
Kt, Kt B7ch.; 20 K K ti,
obvious alternatives to the text
Kt R6 dbl. ch.; 21 K B i,
move fail; for example, 10 P x
K tx K t ), B P x Q ; 20 K x K t ,
P, K t x P c h . ; 11 K K2, Q x
P x K t ; with advantage.
K 2ch.; 12 K x Kt, Q K8ch.;
13 K B3, Q X B ; threatening 17. Kt(2) B3 K t Kts
Q K6 Mate, or 10 K t x K t , 18. B Q3
P x K t ; 11 Q x B , K t B3;
12 Q Q2, B - K t 5c h .; 13 B White has been forced to sub
K2, R x P ; 14 R K i, Q mit to the escape of the knight,
B3; 15 P B3, R x B ; 16 so he prepares a counter-attack.
R x R , Q B8ch. The best reply was 18 . . .,
P KR3.
10. K t QB3
11. Q R3 18. Kt(8) B7
19. B x R P B Kt4ch.
After 11 Q K i, K t x K t ;
12 P x P , Q B3; 13 B x K t , Underestimating Whites re
Q x B ; Black has the better sources and hoping to force the
game. Steinitz avoids this line issue by his own attack. Correct
by his veiled attack on the was 19 . . ., Kt B 3 ; 20 B
Black rook. Black must there B5, K t(7 )-K t5.
56 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

20. K K tl Q K7 K K2 ; 31 Q x R, B x K t ; 32
Threatening Q Q8ch. Q Q8ch., K K 3 ; 33 P B8
21. B Q2 =Qch., and wins. Black must
therefore simplify in order to
(b l a c k ) p il l s b u r y try and establish his material
superiority.
23. Q x B Q xQ
24. P x Q KtxKtP
This allows White to bring
his rook to the support of his
passed pawn, but if 24 . . ., Kt
(8) K6 ; 25 Kt K6, obtain
ing at least material equality
and a positional advantage.
25. R K ti KtxQP
26. RxP K t B4
(w h i t e ) s t e in it z 27. R Kt5 Kt QR3
Position before Black's 21st move. 28. Kt K6 R B3
( D i a g r a m 21)
The battle continues un
21. Kt Q8 abated. If KR B i ; 29 R
R5ch., K K t i ; 30 R KKts,
Not quite sufficient is Kt Kt K 6; 31 R x Pch.
K6, threatening K t R6ch., be
cause of 22 Kt R4, defending 29. Kt(3)xP R K i
the KKtP and threatening Kt R QBi at once would have
Kt6Mate. White is suddenly saved a move. The text move
seen to have no small counter prepares a not very dangerous
attack. The text move trap.
threatens Q B8 Mate.
30. R Rsch. K K ti
22. B Q3 BxB 31. R KKt5
The attack is held, as the Which White avoids. An
following variation shows: error would be 31 B x P, R x B ;
22 . . ., Q B7ch.; 23 K R i, 32 K t x R, R K8 Mate.
Kt(8) K6 ; 24 B x Kt, K t x
B ; 25 R K K ti, -B B3 ; 26 31. K t K6
32. Kt x K tP R QBi
Q Q6, R B 3 ; 27 Kt B7ch.,
R x Kt (not K K t i ; 28 Q 33. Kt K6 dis.ch. K R i
Q8ch., R x Q ; 29 P x R=Qch., If K B2; 34 R Kt7ch.,
K x K t ; 30 K t Kts Mate) ; K K i ; 35 R Kt8ch., K
28 Q Kt6, K K t i ; 29 Q Q 2 ; 36 R Q8ch. But the
R7ch., K B i ; 30 Q R8ch., position of the king on the edge
PILLSBURY TCHIGORIN 57
of the board allows White to 55. K R3 R Q6ch.
develop sharp mating threats. 56. P Kt3 R QB6
57. R - R 5ch. K Kt3
34. B R5 R B2
58. P R4 R B5
35. Kt K2 R B4
59. R R6ch. K R4
White was threatening 36 60. P Kt4ch. Resigns.
B B3ch., K R2 ; 37 R
R5ch., K Kt3 ; 38 Kt(2)x For after 60..., R x P ; there
Pch., R x K t ; 39Kt x Rch., K follows 61 R R6ch.
B2 ; 40 R R7ch., winning.
36. B B3ch. K R2
37. R Kt7ch. K R3
38. Kt(2)xP K t x B P
Getting rid of the objection GAME 17
able pawn at last, for if now 39
R x Kt, R x R ; 40 Kt x R, R x PILLSBURYTCHIGORIN
K t ; and wins because of the
threats of R B8 Mate and R St. Petersburg tournament,
B5. White, however, has a line 1896.
to recover the exchange with a
won ending.
T c h ig o r in D e f e n c e
39. R Kt6ch. K R2
40. Kt Ktsch. R x Kt 1. P Q4 P Q4
41. R xR Kt K i 2. P B 4 Kt QB3
42. B Q4 Kt Q8
43. R R5CI1. K K ti The Tchigorin Defence,
44. R R8ch. K B2 which has not been regarded
45. R R7ch. K K ti with great favour. If 3 Kt Q
46. R K7 R Qi B3, P K4.
47. Kt K6 R B i
3. Kt KB3 B Kts
48. P KR4 Kt B6
4- P K3 P k 3
49. B x Kt
5- Kt B3 B Kts
There is no need for further 6. Q -K t3 BxKt
complications. The struggle, 7- PxB KKt K2
one of exceptional ferocity, is 8. B Q2 0 0
now over. 9- P B4

49. R xB If Black is allowed to play


50. R x Ktch. K B2 P K4 he will have a very good
51. R QR8 KxKt game. After the text move he
52. RxP K B4 has to have recourse to a most
53. R R4 R B7 eccentric development if he is
54. K R2 R Q7 to get any counter play.
58 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

9. R K tl Owing to the weakness of


10. 0 O O P x P Blacks QP, White is able to
11. B x P P QKt4 develop a counter-attack along
12. B Q3 his own open file without loss of
time.
Not 12 B x KtP, B x K t ; 13
B x B, P QR3 ; nor 12 Kt x 22. P QB3
P, B x B c h . ; 13 R x B , P Q 23. R(Q) K ti P K t3
R3 ; losing a piece either way. 24. P B5 P Kts
12. B x Kt 25. P x P RP x P
13. Q xB R Kt3
It is now a critical race be
In order to play K t Q4. tween the two attacks. Black
threatens R R6, but must first
14. K K ti P QR4 attend to his K side.
15. KR K ti Kt Kt5
16. B K4 Kt(2) 64 26. Q Q3
17- Q B5 Q -R i
Blacks whole scheme of de White has emerged with the
velopment is strikingly irregu initiative. If Black replies
lar, yet White has to treat it R x P , then White breaks
with the utmost respect. The through with 27 R x Pch., K
threat now is K t B6ch., fol B i ; 28 R Kt8ch., transposing
lowed by Q x B with a well- into the actual game.
posted queen and a considerable
reduction in Whites attacking 26. K B i
chances. But at the cost of ex
changing pieces White can now (b l a c k ) TCHIGORIN
win a pawn.
18. Q B x K t PxB
19. B x Kt PxB
20. Q x P(4) R QR3
21. Q Kt3
The open QR file is good com
pensation to Black for his pawn.
White dare not open the QKt
file as well by 21 Q x P because
of R K t i ; 22 Q K2, R x RP.
Equally 21 P QR3 will allow
Black to open the QKt file by
21 . . ., R R 5 ; 22 Q Q2,
P Kts. (w h i t e ) p il l s b u r y

21. R K ti Position before White's 27th move.


22. R K ts (D i a g r a m 22)
PILLSBURY TCHIGORIN 59
27. R x KtP RxP K 33 Q K2, Black answers
Q R8 threatening both Q x
He dare not play P x R be
Pch. and Q B8ch. Black will
cause of 28 Q x P , R R2 (R x
now recover the pawn with a
P ; 29 Q B6ch., K K i ; 30
drawn ending.
R Kt8ch., K Q2 ; 31 R Kt
7ch. and mates); 29 Q Kt8ch., 33 - QxQch.
K K2 ; 30 Q R7ch., K K 34 - KxQ R Kt7
3; 31 Q R6ch K Q2(K 35 - RxKtP RxP
B 4 ; 32 Q Kt6 Mate); 32 R 36 . R Kt7 RxPch.
Kt7ch., and mates. 37 - K -Q 3 P KB4
28. R Kt8ch. K K2 For some time White con-
29. RxR Q R5 tinues his efforts to win, but in
Black now seems to be in vain. The game proceeded :
great trouble, having lost a 38 R QB7, K Q3 ; 39 R
whole rook. He has, however, B7, P B4 ; 40 P xPch., K x
this fighting reply which by its P ; 41 R B7ch., K Q3 ; 42
threat of R R8 Mate ensures R 2, R B6 ; 43 K Q4,
recovery of the piece. R R6 ; 44 R B2, K K3 ;
45 P Kt4, R R5ch. ; 46 R
30. R Kt7ch. K K3 B4, R R8 ; 47 K B5, R
31. K B i B8ch. ; 48 K Q4 (not 48 K
Kt6, R B6), R QKt8 ; 49 K
He has nothing better, for if
B3, R K8 ; 50 K -Q 2 , R
he tries to lose the rook to his
QR8 ; 51 K Q3, R R6ch.;
own advantage by 31 R Kt
6ch., P B 3 ; 32 R x Pch., K x 52 K K2, K K4 ; 53 R
R ; 33 K B i, Black still has Q4, R Kt6; 54 R KB4,
a mate by R R8ch. ; 34 K R B6 ; 55 K Q2 R B i ;
56 K Q3, R B8 ; 57 K -Q 2 ,
Q2>QQ8 Mate. R QR8; 58 K K2, R R
31. R R8ch. 7ch.; 59 K Q3, R K K t7 ;
32. K Q2 R xR 60 K B3, R K7 ; 61 K Q3,
33. Q B2 R QR7 ; 62 K B3. Drawn.
6o BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

R. Charousek (1873-1899), was a Czech by birth but Hungarian


by adoption. In a very brief career before he was overtaken by
tuberculosis he showed himself a player of the very first rank, his
most striking achievement being the winning of the Berlin, 1897
tournament.

GAME 18 13. K R i Kt B3
14. K t Kt3 QxKBP
CHAROUSEKPILLSBURY 15. K K t Q4 KtxKt
16. Kt x Kt Q B4
Nuremburg tournament, 1896.
Had he omitted 12 . . ., Q
F a l k b e e r C o u n t e r -G a m b it B4ch. ; 13 K R i, he could
now play 16 . . ., B B4 ; pin
P K4 P K4 ning the knight.
P - K B 4 P - 4 17. Kt K6 BxKt
PxQP P K5 18. Q x Bch. K R i
P Q3 Kt KB3 19. B K 3 Q q 3
PxP 20. Q Kt3 P B 3
A variation rendered suspect 21. QR Qi Q B2
later and replaced by 5 Kt Q2. 22. B Q2
5- KtxK P In order to bring the queen
6. Q - K 2 over to the K side.
The usual line is 6 Kt KB3, 22. QR K i
B QB4; 7 Q K2, B B4. 23. Q Kt3 B Q3
Charousek is, however, leading 24. B QB3 R K2
to a new variation of his own on 25- Q R4 Kt Q4
the 8th move, to which the best
answer is 8 . .., Kt B3. Leading to situations of criti
cal intensity in which he hopes
6. Q xP to out-manceuvre his unknown
7. Kt Q2 P KB4 opponent.
8. P KKt4 B K2
9. B Kt2 Q R4 26. B x Kt PxB
10. PxP Kt KB3 27. Q R5 BxP
11. Kt B3 O O 28. Q x P
12. O O Q B4ch. 28 B Kt4 is answered by R
An indifferent method of de K4 ; 29 Q Kt4, Q x P (not R
fending the bishop. Kt B3 at Kt4 ; 30 Q x R) ; 3o Q R3(R
once was preferable. x B , R x R ; 31 Q x R , Q x
CHAROUSEK PILLSBURY 6l
Rch.), Q K sch.; or 29 Q R4, Sergeant gives a fuller analysis
P KtA; 30 Q R3, R K6 ; in his collection of Charouseks
31 Q -R 5 , R(B) K i . After games.
the text move, though there axe
no absolutely immediate 3i. R Qi
threats, Black finds that his
ingenuity may recoil upon him (BLACK) P IL LSB U R Y

self, for danger is imminent


owing to the pin of his bishop,
to the pressure on the long dia
gonal and to the possibility in
some eventualities of mate on
the first rank.
28. R K K ti
29. R Q4 B K4
Not B x P ; 30 R KR4, B
Kt6 ; 31 RxPch., K x R ; 32
Q R5 Mate.
30. R QB4 (W HITE) CHAROUSEK

Preventing the exchange of Position before White's 32nd move.


bishops and threatening if ( D ia g r a m 23)
30 . . ., Q Q3; 31 QxRch.,
K x Q ; 32 R QB8ch. To this White can no longer
reply 32 B x B because the
30. Q K ti
31. R K i bishop would then be pinned on
the rook, but apparently
In this critical situation Tar- Blacks move is still insufficient.
rasch suggested that White won 32. Q B5
by 3 1 R K4, and the only lines
which prevent White capturing For, as G. W. Baines pointed
the bishop are B Q3 ; 32 R out, White could now play 32
KR4, B K 4; 33 RxPch., R x B , R x Q ; 33 RxR(7), and
K x R ; 34 Q K4ch., K R3 ; there is no satisfactory answer
35 Q R4ch., winning, or R to the four threats of B xPch.,
K B i ; 32 R Qi, B Q3 ; 33 R x K K t P , R(4) B7 and R(4)
R KR4, B K 4 ; 34 Q K4 K4. His main analysis con
and 35 R Q7, but in the latter tinues 33 . . ., R Q8ch.; 34
variation J. H. White suggested K Kt2, Q Q i ; 3 5 ^(4) K4.
33 . . B B5 ; holding every R Q7ch- ; 36 K R3, Q B
thing, so Charouseks judgment i c h . ; 37 K Kt3, R - Q i ; 38
appears to be upheld. P. W. R KKt4, R K t i ; 39 B K5,
62 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD
Q B i ; 40 R(7) x KKtP, with 37 . Q K B i
a winning ending. 38. R Q3 Q -K 2
39. P KR3 P KR4
32. B -Q 3
33. RxR
Forestalling any chance of
The right idea just too late. mate on his KKti. Whites
attempts to get a rook onto the
33 - BxQ
KR file with check are neatly
34. R x KKtP
foiled.
Not 34 R xB , Q B5 ; 35 R
x KKtP, R >5- 40. R(3) - K K t 3 Q Ksch.
34- R Q8ch. 4 i- R(i) Kt2 Q K8ch.
42. K R2 Q -K 4
35. R K ti dis.ch. B Q5
43 - P KR4 Q B5
The complications of defence 44 - K K ti Q xP
with counter-attack on both 45 - P b 3 Q -K B 5
sides constitute chess of the 46. R Kts Q K6ch.
richest quality. 47 - K R2 Q B6
48. R(2) Kt3 Q K7ch.
36. BxBch. RxB Q K3ch.
37. RxR 49 - K R3
50. K R4 Q Ksch.
Now the two rooks are in Drawn.
sufficient to win against the
threat of perpetual check, For if 51 K x P, Q R2ch.;
though Charousek tries hard 52 K Kt4, Q Ksch.; 53K
still to force the issue. R 3. Q R8ch.
STEINITZ LASKER 63

Dr. Em. Lasker (1868-1941) was world champion from 1894


to 1921 and through the whole of his playing career no master was
ever more dangerous or more difficult to defeat. Yet he had no
definable style; he sought even at the cost of some temporary
disadvantage to create a position where his skill could be given
full play. His philosophy of the struggle to succeed by any means
was applied by him to the chessboard as to life. He achieved a
wonderful succession of tournament and match victories, among
the greatest being his first prizes at St. Petersburg, 1914, and at
New York, 1924.

GAME 19 Black cannot avoid the doub


ling of the pawns. If B x B ; 13
STEINITZLASKER Kt K4, Q Kt3 ; 14 Kt x
Bch., while if Kt x B ; 13 Kt
5th match game, Moscow, 1896.
K4, Q Q4 ; 14 Qx Q, P x
Q ; 15 B xB, R K i ; 16 Kt
P il l s b u r y A t t a c k
B6ch., P x K t ; 17 B x P, winning
a pawn.
1. P Q4 P Q4
2. P QB4 p k 3 13. B K ti
3. Kt QB3 Kt KB3
4. B Kts B K2 The natural continuation
5. P K3 O O after his n th move, although it
6. Q Kt3 shuts in the QR.

A variation which has long 13- R Qi


since become obsolete. 14 - P QR3 Kt Q4
15. Q B2 P B4
6. PxP 16. Kt Q4
7- B xP P B4
8. PxP Q R4 Not P KKt4 at once, for
9- Kt B3 QxBP then Kt B3.
10. 0 0 Kt B3 16. B B3
11. B -Q 3 17. P KKt4 K t x K t
The threat was Kt QR4
winning a piece. 11 B K2 After Whites last violent
looks more natural but White attacking move, which also has
plans an attack along the obvious weaknesses, Black de
diagonal. cides to play for a win. There is
a clear draw by B x K t ; 18
ii- Kt QKt5 P x B , Q x P ; 19 P x P , Q
12. BxKt PxB Ktsch.; 20 K Ri, Q B6ch.
64 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

18. P x K t PxP Black misses the best move


19 Q x Pch. K B i which is P Kt3. If then 27 K t
20. B K4 B6ch. (not Q x R .B R3CI1.),
K B i ; 28 Q Kt4ch K
For all the constricting ap K t 2 ; 29 Q Q4ch. (B Q3, B
pearance of his 13th move, his Kt2), P K 4 ; 30 Q Q3. B -
QR is free for action before Kt2 ; with a pawn up and the
Blacks even now. better position.
20. K K2 27. R x Pch.
Threatening R R i winning Seizing the opportunity to
the queen. reassume the initiative with a
fine sacrificial attack. K tx
2x. B Kt6 R Bx Pch., suggested by some, does
22. QR K ti Q K K t4 not seem to lead to such power
Now Black prepares to turn ful continuations.
the opening of the K side to his 27. BxR
own ends.
If 27 . . ., K B i (K K i ;
23. B B2 R R i 28 B R4CI1.) ; 28 K t x Pch., K
24. Q K4 B K4 K ti ( B x K t ; 29 Q x B and
mates); 29 R Q8ch., Q x R ;
Q KR4 is answered by 25 30 R Kt7 Mate. If 2 7 .. . , K
Q Kt2. B3 ; 28 Q B6, Q K ti (B x
25. K R Qi B x Pch. R ; 29 Q x B leads to the actual
26. K B i P B4 game) ; 29 Kt x KP, B x K t ;
30 R(i) Q7, R QB i ; 31 Q
(BLACK) LASKER
R6, R B i ; 32 B K t3.
28. QxBch. K B3
29. K t x KP
And now White in turn misses
the best move which was 29 Kt
x BP. If then P x K t ; 30 Q
B6ch., K B2 ; 31 R Q7ch.
Or if 29 . . ., Q K t i ; 30 Q
K7ch., K K t3 (K K4; 31
Kt Q6, R Q B i ; 32 P Q
B4, R x P ; 33 Kt x R Mate) ;
31 Kt Kt7 dis. ch., K R3 ;
32 Q B6 Mate. The best reply
is 29 . . . , QR K i ; 30 R Q7,
(WHITE) STEINITZ Q K ti ; 31 Kt Kt7, R Kt
Position before White's 27th move. 1 ; 32 Q K4, R R 3 ; 33 Q
(D ia g r a m 24) x P, with a winning attack.
LASKER BLACKBURNE 65
29. Q K ti 38. Q B5ch. K K ti
39. Q Kt6ch. K B i
Not K x K t ; 30 B Kt3ch., Drawn.
K -K 4 ; 31 Q-Q5ch., K -
B3 ; 32 Q B7ch., K K4 ; 33 A fair ending to a game which
Q K6 Mate. both players tried to win, and
which was all the keener for the
30. Kt Q4 failure always to find absolutely
the best continuations.
Whites attack would die
away after 30 Kt B5, Q B
5ch. ; 31 Kt Q3, or after 30
Kt B7, B x Kt. He therefore
plays for material compensa
tion for his sacrifice. GAME 20

30. R -Q i LASKER-BLACKBURNE
3 i- B x P B K4
32. B K4 London tournament, 1899.
To free his queen from the R u y L opez
need to guard his KRi, a plan
which Black immediately
P K4 P K4
counters.
Kt KB3 Kt GES
32. Q Bsch. B -K t5 P -Q 3
33 - B03 Q xP P04 B Q2
34. Q K4 BxKt P -Q 5
35- P x B A most unusual move, which
Preferring to have the K file relieves the tension in the
open before taking the checks. centre but gives him a certain
space advantage. His next
35- QxQP move is the necessary corollary,
36. Q Kt6ch. otherwise Black frees his game
with P KB4.
Now he has lost his material
equality but again has sufficient 5 Kt K ti
positional compensation to se 6 B -Q 3 B K2
cure the draw. 7 Kt B3 Kt KB3
8 Kt K2 p- b3
36. K K2 9 P B4 Kt R3
37. R Kich. K B i 10 Kt Kt3 Kt B4
h B B2 P -Q K t 4
If K Q2 White draws by 38
Q K6ch., K B2 ; 39 R B With a view to breaking the
ich., K K ti ; 40 R Ktich., grip of the White pawns, but
K B2 ; 41 R Bich. his pieces are not well posted for
66 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

supporting the manuvre and 28. R K R i


it recoils upon him. 29. Kt B3 B KB5
30. Kt Q5
12. P Kt4 Kt Kt2
13- QPxP BxP If 30 B x B , Black plays Q
*4- PxP BxKtP R5, though he also has 30 . . .,
15. P -Q R 4 B -Q 2 R R8ch. ; 31 K x R , K t x
16. O O P K t3 Pch. The Black attack is now
With a weak QP, and a Q beginning to show in its true
side majority against him Black colours.
must try at all costs to get some
sort of attack going. 3- Q Kt4
31- P B3
17. P R3 P KR4
18. B K3 P R4 Forced by the threat of Q
19. P K ts R QBi R4.
20. R B i K t B4
21. K t Q2 (b l a c k ) BLACKBURNE

Black was threatening P


R5 winning the KP. Now
White threatens to open up new
lines of attack by P B4.
ai. P R5
22. Kt K2 P Kt4
Desperate situations call for
desperate remedies, and Black-
bume decides to sacrifice a
pawn to hinder Whites attack
and further his own.
23. BxP R K K ti (WHITE) LASKER
24. BxP B x RP Position before Black's 31st move.
25. B K K t3 B K 3 ( D i a g r a m 25)
26. R K i Kt Kt5
27. K t B i B Kt4 31. R R8ch.
28. R K ti
The brilliant culmination of a
Had White appreciated the fighting recovery.
full force of the attack which 32. K x R BxB
Black has conjured out of a 33. K t x B
lost position he would have
played P B4, though even If R K2 (against Kt B7
then B R5 gave Black a ch.), B B7; 34 R x B (against
powerful offensive. Q R5ch.), Kt x Rch.; 35 K
JANOWSKI BURN 67
Kti, Kt x Q ; with an advan after his hopeless position of
tage even more marked than eight moves earlier.
that obtained in the actual
game. 44. R Q2
45. R B8ch. K K2
33 - Kt Bjch. 46. R(i) R8
34- K K ti KtxQ
35- Kt B5 BxKt(B) Making a last brave effort. If
36. P x B Q Q7 in reply 46 . . ., Q x P ; White
The game appears to be abso even now escapes with a draw
lutely won, but it is Whites by 47 R(B) K8ch., K B 3 ; 48
turn now to fight back. Kt Kt4ch., K B4 (K K t4 ;
49 R(R) Kt8ch.); 49 Kt
37 KRxKt QxB K3ch K B3 (K B5; 50
38 Q R -B i QxBP P Kt3ch., K Kt4 ; 51 R(R)
39 Kt Kt6 R Qi Kt8ch.); 50 Kt Kt4ch. A
40 Kt B4 Kt Kt2 great game, Laskers only loss in
4i Kt K3 Q -B 5 the tournament, and one which
42 K B2 Q xP earned Blackbume the bril
43 R B7 Kt B4 liancy prize.
44 R K R i
46. Q Q5
Threatening mate on the
move, a wonderful achievement Resigns.

D. Janowski (1868-1927), a Pole by birth but French by adop


tion, was with Marshall regarded as the rising star of the beginning
of the twentieth century. Eventually he achieved a match with
Lasker for the world title, but was heavily defeated.

GAME 21 4. 0 0 KtxP
JANOWSKIBURN
5 - P Q4 Kt Q3
6. B R4
Paris tournament, 1900.
R u y L opez
An unusual move to which
the best reply is P K5. The
1. P K4 P K4 normal variations are either 6
2. Kt KB3 Kt QB3 B x K t , Q P x B ; 7 P X P , Kt
3. B Kts Kt B3 B4; 8 QxQch., or 6 P x P ,
68 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

K t x B ; 7 P QR4, P Q3 ; 19. B Q2 Q R5
8 P K6. 20. B x B PxB
6. PxP 21. Q Q2 P Q3
22. Kt Q3 P B5
7. P - B 3
Assuming the initiative. The
A bold line by which he hopes threat of P B6 prevents White
to take advantage of the poor from taking the QKtP.
position of the Black knights. If
Black replies P x P then 8 Kt x 23. P B3 R B4
P, B-^K2 ; 9 Kt 65, 0 - 0 ; 24. Q B2
io B B4, pinning the knight And now not 24 K t x K t P ,
on the weak QBP. Black pre R KR4 ; 25 P K R 3, B x
fers to return one pawn. B P ; 26 P x B , Q x P ; with a
7. B K2 winning attack.
8. P x P P QKt4 24. Q R3
An elaborate but ultimately 25. K t x K t P R KR4
effective freeing manoeuvre. 26. P KR3 R K B i
27. P QR4
9. B Kt3 K t R4
10. B B2 B Kt2 Threatening P R5 winning
11. Kt K5 0 0 a piece. 27 Kt x B would not be
12. Kt QB3 good because the Black knight
would settle on his K6.
Again temporarily fixing
Blacks KKt. If 12 . . ., P 27. B K3
Kts ; i 3 Kt R4, Kt(3) B5 ; 28. P R5
14 K t x Kt, Kt x K t ; 15 Q
(BLACK) BURN
Q3, wins. The move chosen by
Black loses the QKtP and 12...,
P QR3 ; was more solid.
12. Kt(4) B5
13. P QKt3 Kt Kt3
14. K txKtP KtxK t
15. Q -Q 3 P KB4
16. QxKt P QR4
Threatening B R3.
17. Q K2 B Q4
18. R K i B Kt5
With a few rapid strokes
Black completes has develop (w h i t e ) jan ow ski

ment but comes out with yet Position before Black's 28th move.
another indefensible QKtP. (D i a g r a m 26)
JANOWSKI BURN 69
28. BxRP B ; 40 RxPch., K R i ; 41
R R6ch., K K t i ; but any
Getting in the first blow in a attempt to continue this varia
very critical position and tion for a win leads nowhere;
threatening R Kt4. Any less for example, 42 R(6) R7, R
vigorous line to save the knight B2 ; 43 R(K) x R , Q x K t ; 44
would allow Whites QRP to R(B) Kt7ch K B i ; 45 R
become a menace. If now 29 Q7 Q Kt4ch.; 46 K B i,
P x B , R x P ; and wins. Q Kt4ch.; 47 K B2, K
29. P x K t PxP K t i ; 48 R(Q) Kt7ch., K
30. B Q3 B i ; 49 R R7, K K t i ; 50
R (KR) Kt7, Q K i.
Too late to defend his KKt2.
39. K R i
30. BxP 40. R KR2 P KR4
31. Q xB 41. R K6 R B4
The queen cannot be saved,
so he plays to get three pieces Better than K Kt2 or R2 ;
for it. 42 R KKt2. Black now
threatens to break the attack
31. R KKt4 byRxKt.
32. R R2 RxQch.
33. R x R Q B3 42. R(R) K2 K R2
34. Kt B6
43. R K7ch. K R3
44" R K8 Q R5
Blacks attack is over and now 45. R KKt2 P QKt4
it is White'who has the initia
tive again. He now threatens (BLACK ) BU R N
35 Kt K7ch K R i ; 36 Kt
Kt6ch., P x K t ; 37 R R
2ch., K K t i ; 38 B B4CI1.
34- P Q4
35. Kt K7ch.K B2
Not K R i ; 36 B x P
(threatening Kt Kt6ch.), Q x
Pch. ; 37 K R i , R R i ; 38
R KR2.

36. R K5 P K t3
37. K t x Q P Q Qi
38. R K7ch. K K ti
39- B B4 (W HITE) JA N O W SK I

Playing for a win. He could Position before White s 46th move,


force a draw by 39 B x P , P x (D i a g r a m 27)
70 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

Apparently succeeding at last Q8ch., K B4 ; 54 R B7


in breaking up Whites game Mate. After the text move
with advantage, but White White must take the draw.
finds a brilliant continuation to
the attack. 49. R(8) Kt7ch.
46. R R8ch. K Kt2 For now 49 R(6) Kt7ch.,
47. R Kt8ch. fails because the king can take
The point. Black cannot the knight.
reply 47 . .., K x R ; because of 49. K K i
48 Kt K7 dbl. ch., K R2 50. R Kt8ch. K B2
(K Kt2 ; 49 KtxRch., or
K B i ; 49 KtxPch.) ; 49 If R B i ; 51 K t B7CI1.,
B Kt8ch., K R3 ; 50 R x P K Q2(K B2; 52 R(8) Kt7
Mate. Mate, or K K2 ; 52 K t
47. K B2 Q5ch., or K Q i ; 52 Kt
48. R(2) x P PxB K6ch); 52 R(6) Kt7ch K
B3 ; 53 R x R. A tremendous
Black dare not try 48 . . ., game.
Q K8ch.; 49 K -R 2 , Q -
B 7ch.; 50 R Kt2, Q x Q P ; 51. R(8) Kt7ch. K B i
51 R(2) K t7ch., K K 3 ; 52 52. R Kt8ch. K B2
R K 7ch., K - Q 3 ; 53 R - Drawn.

F. J. Marshall (1877-1944) was the brilliant young American


master who burst upon the chess world early in the twentieth
century with great tournament victories such as those at Cam
bridge Springs, 1904, and Nuremburg, 1906. A certain unsound
ness was compensated by exceptional ingenuity and this earned
him a reputation as the originator of the famous Marshall
" swindles. In matches he was not successful, being heavily
defeated both by Lasker and by Capablanca. G. Marco was a
prominent Austrian master.

GAME 22 S co tch G a m b it
m a r sh a ll - m arco t p __ p ________
Monte Carlo tournament, 2. K t KB3 K t QB3
1904. 3. P Q4 P xP
MARSHALL MARCO 71
4. B QB4 B B4 change. Marshall must there
5. P B3 P Q6 fore counter-attack at all costs.
P x P had been known for 13. KtxB
more than half a century to 14. QxKtP R B i
give White a dangerous attack. 15. P K5
For example, 5 . . PxP ; 6 It is not sufficient to get a
Kt xP, P Q3 ; 7 O O, Kt rook for two bishops by 15 B
B3 ; 8 B KKts, B K3 ; 9 R6, Q K2 ; 16 Q x P, B K3 ;
Kt Q5, B x K t ; 10 P x B , 17 B x R , Qx B.
was a consultation game Saint-
Amant and Horwitz Staunton 15. KtxP
and Harrwitz, Hull, 1847, or Better was P x P ; 16 R(2)
7 . . . , B K3; 8 B x B , P x B ; K2, B K3 ; 17 B R6, Q
9 Q Kt3, Q B i ; 10 B K3, K2.
a match game, Staunton Jae-
nisch, 1851. After the text 16. K R i
move White cannot easily de Threatening P KB4 re
velop the QKt. Compare Game covering the piece.
8. 16. B K3
6. 0 0 P03 17. R(2) K2
7. Q xP The rapid doubling of the
P QKt4, B Kt3 ; 8 Q rooks has the surprise effect of
Kt3, to hinder Blacks castling recovering the piece, for he
came into consideration. threatens P KB4 B5 as well
as 18 P KB4, Kt Q 6; 19
7. Kt B3 RxBch., P x R ; 20 RxPch.,
8. P QKt4 B Kt3 and mates.
9. P QR4 P QR3
10. R K i 17- Q K2
18. P KB4 Kt Q6
Better was 10 B KKt5. [Diagram 28]
Marshall probably wanted to
retain the option of playing B 19. P B5
R3 and P K5. A most interesting situation.
10. Kt Kt5 19 . . ., K t x R ; 20 R x K t ,
11. R R2 Kt(5) K4 B B 7; 21 B Kt5, with a
12. K t x K t KtxKt fearful grip on Blacks game as
for example after 21 . . ., Q Q
13- Q Kt 3 2 ; 22 R K2, B Kt3 ; 23
The inferiority of his 10th Q B6, R K K t i ; 24 P x B ,
move is now clear. P K5 is P x P ; 25 RxPch. , nor can
prevented and if 13 Q K2, Black try 19 . . ., Kt x B ; 20
then 13 . . ., K t x B ; 14 Q x R x K t (bad would be R x B ,
Kt, B K3 ; winning the ex- P x R ; 21 R x P , Q x R ; 22
72 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD
(BLACK) MARCO Preventing R Q2 by White.
He is now content to draw, but
Marshall has other ideas and the
complex developments which
he conjures out of this simple
position are an object lesson in
fighting chess.
29. R B2 B R3
30. R B2ch. K K2
31. R B3 R Q8
32. R B i R Q6
33. R B3 R Q8
34. Kt R3
The only move if he is to play
(w h i t e ) M a r s h a l l
for a win, but it costs him his
Position before White's 19th move. QRP.
(D i a g r a m 28)
34. R QB8
35. P B4 R QR8
P x Q, R B8 Mate), O 0 0 ; 36. P B5 B B8
21 P x B , with any effect. He 37. Kt B4 R xP
can however play 19 . . ., K t x 38. Kt K5 B Kt7
R ; 20 R x Kt, and now O O
O ; 21 B Kts, Q Q2 ; 22 If R x P ; 39 R B7CI1., K
B x R . R x B ; 2 3 P x B , P x P ; Q i ; 40 R Q7ch., K B i ; 41
with a slightly better game than R x P , threatening R R8 Mate.
he actually gets.
39- Kt Q3 B B6
19. Kt K4 40. R B4 P -Q R 4
20. P x B PxP 4i- R R4 PxP
21. B R6 Q xQ 42. R x Pch. K Qi
22. B x Q R B4 43- Kt B4 P Kt6
23. B x K t R xB 44- KtxPch. K Bi
24. R x R PxR 45- P B6
25. P Kt3 [Diagram 29]

The pawn cannot be defended Now White has landed him


and if R x P at once, 25..., R self in serious trouble and has
Q i ; forces the rook back to the no prospect of stopping the
first rank. QKtP after R x Pch. The text
move is not quite sound
25- R Qi but the fact that it succeeds
26. K Kt2 R Q6 shows how effectively Marshall
27. R x P K B2 has brought the game into a
28. R K2 B K6 state of crisis.
MARSHALL MARCO 73
(b l a c k ) m a r c o
48. K R3 P Kt7
49. R K7
A fine move. If in reply
49 . . ., P K t 8 = Q ; 50 R
K8ch, K R2 ; 51 R R8ch.,
K K t3 ; 52 P Kt8=Qch.,
K x K t ; 53 Q x Q , winning.
49. K R2
50. R K8 P B3
By covering Whites queen
ing square Black seems to have
assured the successful queening
of his own pawn, but White has
(w h i t e ) m a r s h a l l
worked out one of the brilliant
Position before Black's 45th move. combinations which became
( D ia g r a m 29) known as " Marshalls
swindles.
45. B K4 51. R R8ch. K K t3
Black sees that the QKtP is 52. R xR P Kt8=Q
now brilliantly stopped after 53- P Kt8=Qch. B x Q
45 . . P x P ; 46 RxPch., 54. R Kt2ch. Q x R
K K t i ; 47 R Kt7ch., K x 55. K t R4ch. K Kt4
R ; 48 K t Bsch., K K t3 ; 56. Kt x Q P B4
49 KtxRch., K Kt4 ; 50 Kt 57. K Kt2
xBch., K Kt5 ; 51 Kt K ti, And now the end game starts
P Kt7 ; 52 P R4, P B4; all over again with White a
drawing, and a drawing line no pawn to the good, but a great
longer suits him. There was, deal of equality still in the posi
however, a win in the above tion. If 57 P Kt4, P B5 ;
variation, had he seen it, by 58 P Kt5, P B 6 ; 59 Kt
48..., K R2; 4 9 K t x R , B Q3, K B5 ; 60 K t K i (Kt
Q5 (B R i ; 5 P R4 K B i, B B5), K Q4 ; 61 K
R3 ; 51 Kt Bsch.); 50 K Kt4, B x P ; draws.
B3, K R3 ; 51 K K 4, K -
R4; 52 K x B , K x K t ; and 57. P B5
the QKtP goes home. The text 58. K B3
move which looks secure enough If 58 K t x P , K x K t ; 59
gives Marshall just the chance P Kt4, and the Black king
for which he has been strug crosses in time to stop the
gling. pawns. For example, 59 . . .,
46. P x Pch. K K ti K Q4 ; 60 P R4, K K 3 ;
47. K t B5 R R7CI1. 61 K B3, B Q3 ; 62 K K4,
74 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

B K 2 ; 63 P Kt5, K B2 ; P R5, K B2 ; 67 K B5, K


64 K B5, K Kt2 ; 65 P R K t i ; 68 P R6, K R2 ;
5, B x P . 69 K B6, B Q3 ; 70 P K t
6ch K x P ; 71 P Kt7, B
58. P B6
K4ch. But even a master,
59. Kt Q3 K B5 given sufficient opportunities
60. K t K i for going wrong, will frequently
Not 60 K t B i, B Q3 ; do so sooner or later.
with the threat of B R6. 66. P R5 K Q6
60. K Q4 67. Kt R i K K5
Now if 60 . . K Kt6 ; 61 68. P R6 K K4
P R4, P B7 ; 62 K t x P , 69. K R5 K B4
K x K t ; 63 P Kt4, and the 70. K t B2 B Q3
Black king is too far away. For 71. K t Q4ch.
example, 63..., K Q6; 64 P An elegant knight manuvre,
Kt5, K Q5 ; 65 K K t4, K allowing the Black Pawn for
K4 ; 66 K R5, K K 3 ; 67 ward one square in order to free
K Kt6, B K 4 ; 68 K R7, his own pawns from the atten
K B2 ; 69 P Kt6ch., K tion of the Black king.
B i ; 70 P R5, B B3 ; 71
P R6, B K 4 ; 72 P Kt7ch. 71. K K5
72. Kt K2 P B7
61. P R4 B Q3 73. P Kt6 B R6
62. P Kt4 B K2 74. P Kt7 K06
63. P Kt5 K K4 75. P Kt8=Q
64. K Kt4 B B i
65. K t B2 K K5 Decisively creating the fifth
queen to have appeared on the
Even at this stage White, who board in this superb game.
has fought so hard to create
a win, has not succeeded. Black 75. KxKt
draws by 65 . . ., K K3 ; 66 76. Q R2 Resigns.
LASKER NAPIER 75

W. E. Napier (b. 1881) was taken from England to America as


a child and in 1908 assumed American nationality. He was known
as a child prodigy and won the championship of the Brooklyn
chess club at the age of fifteen. In 1904 he won the British cham
pionship, but in the following year retired absolutely from the
game.

GAME 23 by this move he would secure the


advantage. Correct was B
LASKERNAPIER K t5.
13. K P x P
Cambridge Springs tournament,
1904. (BLACK) N A PIER

S ic i l i a n D e f e n c e

1. P K4 P QB4
2. Kt QB3 Kt QB3
3. Kt B3 P K K t3
4- P Q4 P xP
5. K txP B Kt2
6. B K 3 P Q3
7. P KR3 K t B3
8. P KKt4
An advance justified not by
the position but by Laskers
own ability. Blacks attempt
to disprove the move leads to Position before Black's 13th move.
a game of enthralling com
( D i a g r a m 30)
plexity.
8. 0 0
9. P Kt5 Kt K i 13- K t Q5
10. P KR4 K t B2 14. Kt x Kt
11. P B4 P K4 If B x K t , P x B ; 15 K t x P ,
12. Kt(4) K2 P Q4 K t x P ; 16 Q Q2, R K i c h . ;
17 B K2, and Black can re
Overestimating his position, cover his pawn with the better
though the ensuing course of the game by K t x P.
game shows that Black had
sound reasons for believing that 14. K txP
76 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

Beginning to force Whites vantage. The text move sud


hand. 15 K t x K t is no reply denly threatens a winning at
now as P x K t would win by tack by 19 R P x P , B P x P ; 20
16 B x P, Q X K t ; 17 B x B, Kt xPch. , K K t i ; 21 B
Q x R ; i 8 B x R , QxPch. B4ch., Kt Q4; 22 BxKt ch. ,
R x B ; 23 K t K7ch.
15. K t B5 KtxKt
16. QxQ 18. R K i
19. B B5 PxRP
If P x Kt, B x K t ; 17 P x P,
B x K P ; 18 B Q4, B Kt6ch.; It is Black who must now
19 B B2 (K Q2, Q Q4 ; 20 take care not to lose a piece. If
R K K ti, B Bsch.), Q B2 ; P x B P ; 20 P x P, P x P ; 21
with the better game. B B4, threatening both K t x
P Mate and B B7. While if
16. R xQ 19 . . ., K t K5 ; 20 R P x P ,
17. K t K7ch. B P x P ; 21 B Kt5, B B4
(not R Q i ; 22 B B 4 ); 22
If K t x B, Kt Q4 ; 18 O O
B x R , R x B (not K t x B ; 23
O, B Kt5 ; and White can
B x P ) ; 23 K t x B , K t x B ; 24
not play 19 R Q3, for then
K t x B. The unlikely text move
KtxB; 20 R x K t , R Q8
is the solution to his problem ;
Mate. Also if 17 P x K t , B x
he will sacrifice the exchange to
K t ; 18 P x P , B x P ; 19 B
obtain a probable draw with his
Q2, B K t6ch.; with advan
two bishops.
tage. The shrewdness of Blacks
calculation on his 12th move is 20. B B4
becoming apparent, and White
must find the very best move If P x K t , B B i ; 21 B
every time to escape defeat. Kt5, R x K t ; 22 B x R , B x B ;
But at the same time White is with excellent drawing chances.
quietly preparing his own plans White, who has throughout
against the Black king, as will accepted all Blacks challenges,
soon appear. prefers to continue his threats to
the Black king.
17. K R i
18. P R5 20. PxP

In his increasingly difficult The alternative, giving


position, White exercises every chances of a draw, was B K3 ;
subtlety to elude disaster. P x 21 B x B , P x B ; 22 P x K t ,
Kt, so far from winning a piece, B B i ; 23 R x P, B x K t ; 24
would actually lose by P x P ; B x B , R x B ; 25 P x P , R
19 B Q4, B x B ; 20 P x B , Q B i ; 26 O O O, R x P ;
R K i ; while if 18 K t x B, 27 P Kt6, but Black has yet
K t Q4 ; retains for Black his another surprise by which he
material and positional ad hopes to win.
LASKER NAPIER 77
21. BxP K t K5 simply create another threat in
22. B xR BxP the advance of Blacks BP.
23. R Q K ti B B6ch.
24. K B i B KKt5 25. KBxP BxB
26. RxB Kt Kt6ch.
27. K Kt2 K txR
(BLACK) NAPIER
28. RxP
The complications are over,
and the material is still level.
It will soon be seen, however,
that Whites position is now
superior.
28. P R4
29. R K t3 B Kt2
30. R KR3 Kt Kt6
31. K B3
And now White secures his
first material advantage, one
pawn. 31 . . ., B K4 ; is now
answered by K t Kt6ch., but
(WHITE) LASKER more deadly to Black is the
Position before White's 25th move. threat of P Kt6.
( D ia g r a m 31) Si- R R3
32. K x P Kt K7ch.
33- K - B 5 K t B6
34. P R3 Kt R5
The key move of Blacks plan.
35- B - K 3 Resigns.
White is now faced with no
less than four threats, R x B , It is rare indeed that two
K t x B , K t Q7ch., and K t masters, both with considerable
Kt6ch. He can only return justification, play to outcom-
his material advantage, for a bine one another in the same
move like 25 K Kt2, would combination.
78 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

O. Duras (b. 1882) was a brilliant Czech player of the first


decade of the twentieth century. He won tournaments against the
strongest opposition, notably sharing 1st prize at Prague, 1908, and
Vienna, 1908. After 1914 he retired from active play.
R. Teichmann (1868-1925), a German who lived for many years
in England, promised at one time to become one of the worlds
strongest masters, but eye trouble forced him to abandon the
practice of the game. His greatest success was winning the tourna
ment at Carlsbad, 1911.

GAME 24 B 04 Q K2 ; 19 B x K t ,
Q x B ; 20 Q x B , winning a
DURASTEICHMANN pawn.

15- P 05 K t Q i
Ostend tournament, 1906. 16. P B4 P K t3
17- B B2 P -Q R 4
R uy L o p e z 18. Kt R2 K R2
19. R K ti K t K ti
I. P K4 p K4 20. P B4 PxP
2. K t K B3 K t OB3
B Kt5 After a typical Lopez period
3- P -Q R 3
B R4 Kt B3 of preparation Black now has to
4-
0 0 B K2 make up his mind how to deal
5-
6. R K i with Whites first aggressive
P -Q 3
P B3 0 0 ness. If he does not capture the
7-
8 p k r 3 P -R 3 pawn, he may be faced with
either 21 P B5, or 21 K t B3
Black plays a restricted varia and 22 P x P. In the latter case
tion of the defence. he would have to recapture on
K4 with the pawn on Q3, and
9 P04 B Q2
10 QKt Q2 R K i then Whites QR suddenly as
11 Kt B i B K B i sumes a much more menacing
12 K t Kt3 P K K t3 aspect after P QR3, P Q
B K t3 Q K2 Kt4 and P QB5.
13
14 B K3 B Kt2 21. BxP B K4
The purpose of Whites last To permit 22 P K5 would be
move would appear if Black to allow the full force of Whites
played Kt QR4 here, for then attack to develop against his
1 5 P X P , P x P ; i 6 K t x P , Kt king. B y exchanging bishops
x B ; 17 P x K t , Q x K t ; 18 and getting his queen off the K
DURAS TEICHMANN 79
file the threat is largely dimin 35* Q Kd
ished. 36. R(K) K B i R K R i
37. K K ti R R5
22. BxB Q xB
38. Q K3 R R3
23. Kt K2 Q Kt2
24. K t KB3 K t Kt2 The position is full of com
25. K t Kt3 Kt B4 plications. After Whites last
26. Q Q2 R K2 move P Kt5 would be
27. Q B2 QR K i answered by 39 Kt Bsch., B x
K t ; 40 R x B , P x R ; 41 Q
It has been suggested that
Ktsch., K B i ; 42 Q x R ,
here 28 P K5 must be pre
P x K P ; 43 R B6 (threatening
vented not for positional but for
combinative reasons, the con
xP.
tinuation given being 28 . . .,
P x P ; 29 K t R5, Q R i ; 39- P R 3 P Kts
3o R x P , R x R ; 31 Kt Kt 40. P x P BxP
5ch., P x K t ; 32 Q x Pch., K 41. R B4 B -Q 2
R 3 ; 33 Qx P Ma t e . However, 42. Q - B 2 B K i
there seems no valid objection 43- R B5 0 B6
to 29 . . ., Q B i ; 30 R or Kt Again frustrating Whites
x P, QR K i ; beyond the fact attempts to develop a combi
that Whites position has been native win. If instead P x R ;
improved by the pawn advance. 44 K t x Pch., K R2 ; 45 K t x
R(6), K x K t ; 46 Q Rfch.,
28. R K2 K R i
K Kt2 (Q R 4 ; 47 R B
29. P Kt3 K t B3
6ch.); 47 R B3, K t x K P ; 48
30. QR K i Kt R2
B x Kt, Q x B ; 49 R Kt3ch,
31. B K ti Kt Kt4
and mates. But at last White
32. KtxKt
has succeeded in forcing P K5
Double-edged. He will now and getting his bishop into the
have to prevent Blacks P attack.
Kt5 and this lets the queen take 44. P K5 PxP
up a strong position on the 45. R K ts K R2
Black squares. In addition it [Diagram 32]
gives Black an open file against
the White king. 46. Kt B5

32. P x Kt Very fine. He forces the pace


with a move Black had taken
33- Q B3 Q Q5ch.
34. K R2 K Kt2 steps to prevent.
35. R KB2 46. PxKt
47. Q x Pch. R Kt3
To give his king a flight
square on K t i after 35 . .., P Not K R i ; 48 R R5, Q
Kts ; 36 P x P , R Rich. K6ch.; 49 K R2, P K5 (Kt
8o BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD
(b l a c k ) t e ic h m a n n Much stronger than Q x K tP
ch., 53 R B3. The threat 53..
Q K 6ch.; puts both White
rooks in jeopardy.
53- Q x B Q K6ch.
54. K Kt4 P B4ch.
Of course not Q x R ; 55 Q
Kt8 Mate. Against the text move
White must be careful. If 55
K x P , QxR(7)ch.; and mates
next move, while if 55 R(2) x P ,
there is perpetual check by Q
K7ch.; 56 K B4 (K K t3,
Q K6ch.), Q B7ch.; 57 K
(w h i t e ) duras
K 5, Q K t7ch.
Position before White's 46th move.
( D i a g r a m 32) 55. R(5)xP R Kt3ch.
56. QxRch.
Q 2; 50 R B3, Q Q7 ; 51 The climax of Blacks coun
RxRch., Q x R ; 52 R R 3 ); ter-attack. White cannot play
50 Q B6ch., K R2 (K K t i ; K R4 because of Q Kt6ch.;
51 R x R ) ; 51 R(i) B5, R 57 K R5, R R3 Mate. So he
Q2 ; 52 R(B) Kt5, and mates. must give up queen for rook.
48. Q B6 But his two rooks are in co
operation and will still be strong
With the triple threats of enough to win.
Q x R(7), BxRch. and R R5
ch. In this precarious position 56. K xQ
Black starts a vigorous counter 57. R B6ch. K Kt2
attack. 58. R B7ch. K K ti
59. R B8ch. K Kt2
48. Q Qsch. 60. R(2) B7ch. K Kt3
49. R B2 61. R B6ch. K Kt2
If K R2, Q R sch .; 50 62. R(8) B7ch. K K ti
K K ti, Q x R ; winning. 63. K R5
49. Q Q8ch. Threatening mate in two.
50. K R2 P K5
By stopping two of the 63. Q K7ch.
threats his immediate loss is 64. P Kt4 Resigns.
limited to the exchange, and his If Q R7ch. ; 65 K Kt6,
counter-attack continues. and there are no more checks.
51. Q x R R R3ch. A fine example of attack and
52. K K t3 Q K8 defence.
RUBINSTEIN LASKER 8l

A. Rubinstein (b. 1882), a Pole by birth, came rapidly into


prominence early in the 1900s. IDs style was quiet and simple
but always extremely effective and frequent tournament successes,
such as his 1st prizes at Carlsbad, 1907, and Pistyan, 1912, and his
tie for first place with Lasker at St. Petersburg, 1909, brought him
into consideration as a challenger for the world title but he never
secured a match. He retired in 1930 suffering with a mental break
down from which he has never fully recovered.

GAME 25 He could play to hold the


pawn by Q Q3 but then
RUBINSTEINLASKER 10 B KB4, or by Q Q2 but
then 10 Q R4, in both cases
St. Petersburg tournament, with a difficult game. He prefers
1909. to give up the pawn with the
chance of a quick counter
T arrasch D e fen ce attack.

10. QBxKt BxB


1. P Q4 P Q4
11. KtxP BxKt
2. Kt KB3 K t KB3
12. PxB Q Kt4
3. P B4 P K3
4. B Kt5 P B4 The point. If White con
An inferior move which comes tinues 13 Kt B7CI1., then
better after 4 K t B3, as he can 1 3 . . . , K Q i ; 14 B x K t ,
then continue P B 4 ; 5 B B x B ; 15 P Q5 (Kt x R, R
Kt5, P x Q P ; 6 K K t x P , P Kich.), K x K t ; 16 P x B , QR
K4. Now White removes the Q i ; 17 Q B i, K R K ic h .;
pawn from the K file and he is 18 K B i, Q K t4ch.; with
left with a weak isolated pawn. at least an equal game.

5. BPxP KPxP 13. BxKt BxB


6. Kt B3 PxP 14. K t K3 O 0 O
7. KKtxP Kt B3
Inviting 8 B x K t , Q x B ; Somewhat better was B x P ;
15 R K K ti, Q R 4ch.; 16
9 K t x P , Q x K t ; 10 Kt B
7ch., K Q i ; 11 K t x R , B Q Q2, Q x Qch.; 17 K x Q, B
Ktsch. K5 ; and if 18 R x P, B Kt3.

8. P K3 B K2 15. o_o KR K i
9. B K ts B Q2 16. R B i
82 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD
(BLACK) L A SK E R
P ch .; 21 K R i, Q K 7 ; 22
R K K ti (there are astonish
ingly enough still no checks),
R Q8 ; and the draw is almost
inevitable.
19. P x R
But White has no intention
of letting Black get the draw.
Now if 19 . . R Q3 ; 20 R x
P, with much the better game,
so the QBP falls after all.
19. R Q2
20. Q x Pch. K Qi
(W HITE) R U B IN STEIN

Position before Black's 16th move. Not R B2 ; 21 Q R8ch.,


(D i a g r a m 33)
K Q2 ; 22 R xPch., K K3 ;
23 Q K8ch. (R x R , Q x P c h . ;
16. R x Kt 24 K B i, Q Q6ch.; 25 K
B2, Q Q7ch.; 26 K B3,
Threatening Q x P Mate. Q Q6ch.; 27 K Kt4, Q -
Black has brought all his forces B4ch.; 28 K R4, Q B sch .;
into play in the minimum of recovering the rook with a prob
time, and White will have great able draw), K Q3 ; 24 R x R ,
difficulty in preventing him winning.
from equalising, but since 21. R B4 P B4
White can do so 16 . . K
K t i ; was better. Both players fight all the way.
Now if R Q8ch.; 22 K B2,
17. RxBch. PxR
R Q7ch.; 23 K K i, Q x P ;
iS. Q Bx
24 R Q4-ch., K K2 ; 25 Q
Taking counter measures just Q6ch., wins.
in time. The complications are
considerable even though all 22. Q B5
the minor pieces are gone. If At last White establishes his
Black defends his QBP White advantage. Black cannot de
takes the rook and remains a fend the BP by P Kt3 because
pawn ahead. of 23 Q B8ch., K B2 ; 24
18. R xP R B4ch., K Kt3 ; 25 Q
Kt4ch., K R3 ; 26 R B6
A splendid move. Now after Mate.
19 QxPch., K K ti ; there
are no more checks and White 22. Q K2
must continue 20 P x R , Q x 23. QxQch.
RUBINSTEIN LASKER 83
Removing the piece that is If K Kt6, K K i ; 38 P
most likely to give Black draw K6, R K t 5 ; 39 K x P , R x
ing chances in spite of a material P ch .; 40 K x P, and there are
inferiority. still technical difficulties in
23. K xQ White's way.
24. RxP R Q8ch.
37. K B2
25. K B2 R Q7ch.
38. R Q6 K B i
26. K B3 RxQKtP
39. R B6
27- R QR5
He has come through a haras If R Q8ch., K K2 ; 40
sing time into a won rook end R KKt8, K B2 ; and if 39
ing. There are, however, so K Kt6, R Kt5 ; 40 R
many positions in rook endings Q8ch., K K2 ; 41 R KKt8,
where the extra pawn does not Rx P c h .
win that he still has to be very
careful how he forces the 39. K B2
position. 40. P R3
27. R Kt2
28. R R6 K B i A delightful conclusion, pre
29. P K4 R B2 venting R Kt5- Now after
30. P KR4 K B2 40 . . ., K B i ; 41 K Kt6,
3i- P Kt4 K B i R Q2 ; 42 R B8ch., K
32. K B4 K K2 K2 ; 43 R KKt8, R Q5(K
33- P R 5 P R3 K 3 ; 44 R K8ch., K Q4 ;
34- K B5 K B2 45 P K 6 ); 44 RxPch. , K
35- P K5 R Kt2 K 3 ; 45 K x P, with two united
36. R -Q 6 K B i passed pawns. Therefore
37- R R6 Resigns.
84 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

J. R. Capablanca (1888-1942), a Cuban, began playing as a child,


was champion of Cuba at the age of 12, of America at 21 and of
the world at 33. His style was simple and almost mechanical, of
an accuracy which reduced opponents to despair; he won a series
of tournament victories from 1910 to 1936, and it was only after
he lost the world title in 1927 that his infallibility was called into
question.

GAME 26 10. P QB3


11. Kt K2 B Kt2
MARSHALL-CAPABLANCA 12. O O O O
13- P QR4
n th match game, To prevent P QKt4; 14B
New York, 1909.
Q3. p - Q B 4 ; 15 Q Kt3, P
B5 ; 16 B B2, P QR4.
P il l s b u r y A t t a c k
13. P QB4
i- P Q4 P Q4 14. Q Kt3 Kt B3
2. P QB4 P K3 15. K t B4 OR B i
3. Kt QB3 Kt KB3 16. B R2
4* B Kt5 B K2 If B Kt3, K t R4. Black
5. P K3 Kt K5 already has the better position.
6. B x B Q xB
16. KR Qi
7- B Q3 17. KR K i Kt R4
This allows Black to open the 18. QR Q i
long diagonal for his bishop.
Sacrificing the RP to obtain
The more normal line is Kt
B3, Kt Q2 ; 8 Q B2, fol open lines in the centre by P
lowed either by K t x K t ; 9 K4 or P Q5.
P x Kt, or by P QB3 ; 9 Kt x 18. B B3
Kt, P x K t ; 10 Q x P , Q Kt 19. Q Kt4 P B5
5ch-
If at once B x R P ; 20 K t x P,
7. K txK t P x K t ; 21 BxPch., K R i ;
8. P x K t PxP 22 B x R , B x R ; 23RXB, and
9. B x B P P QKt3 it is White who is a pawn ahead.
10. Q B3
20. P Q5
He cannot hold the diagonal,
but this move leads to more P K4 first gives a more en
combinative possibilities than during pressure.
the usual Kt B3. 20. B x RP
MARSHALL CAPABLANCA 85
I f P x P ; 21 K t x P , B x K t ; Q x R ; 26 Q R6, Q B i ; 27
22 R x B , R x R ; 23QxRch., Kt B6ch., and mates.
R Q i ; and Black has no ad
vantage. 25. K t B6 R xP
26. R x R Q xR
21. R Q2 P K4 27. B K ti

He must either submit to an Q R4 would be answered by


attack on his king, or by playing K Kt2.
P x P allow White freedom in 27. Kt B3
the centre. 28. B B5 R Qi
22. K t R5 P Kt3 P x B would permit 29 Q
R6.
He cannot avoid this weaken
ing move, for if Q B i ; 23, 29. P R4
B K ti, and P Kt3 must fol B Qy would prevent Blacks
low, for 23 . . . , R Q3 (preven next move, but White is two
ting Kt B6ch.) is answered by pawns down and therefore in
24 Kt x P. haste to increase his pressure.
23- P Q6 29. Kt K2
30. K t K4 Q B2
(BLACK) CAPABLANCA 31. Q B6ch. K K ti
32. B K6 PxB
White continues to attack
with ingenuity, and the defence
has to be a model of fighting
carefulness. If R K B i ; 33
Kt Kt5, P x B ; 34 Q x Rch.,
K x Q ; 35 KtxPch, winning
the exchange.
33. QxKPch. K B i
34. K t K ts K t K ti
35. P B4 R K i
36. P x P
[Diagram 35]
(WHITE) MARSHALL

Position before Black's 23rd move.


The attack seems to have
been beaten off, but White
(D i a g r a m 34)
evolves still more surprises.
Black still loses the exchange if
23. Q K3 he takes the queen.
24. Q Kt5 K R i
36. R K2
If R x P at once, 25 R x R , 37. R Bich. K Kt2
86 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD
(b l a c k ) capablanca Black is threatening Q x Pch.,
and if 41 Q xQ , P x Q ; 42 R
B8, R x P ; 43 R x B , R x K t ;
W'-'vfy and Black wins.

41. R xP
P K6 dis. ch., must be
stopped, but if Q x P ; 42 R
B8 (not QxQch., R x Q ; 43
R B7, R K2), Q x Q (forced
by the threat of R x B ) ; 43
K P x Q . B B3; 44 K t B7ch.,
R x K t ; 45 R x R , K t x P ;
46 R x P , with good drawing
(w h i t e ) m arsh all chances.
Position before Black's 36th move.
42. Q Q7 R K2
(D ia g r a m 35)
The defence holds out against
38. P R5 B K i White's last brilliant fling. Fatal
39. P R6ch. K R i would be B x Q ; 43 K t B7
Mate. Had White tried 42 R
Not K x P ; 40 Q Kt4, K B7, the text move would have
Kt2 ; 41 K t K6ch., nor Kt x equally sufficed, but then 42 ...,
P ; 40 Q B6ch. Kt x P ; would have been
40. Q Q6 Q B4 stronger.

The attack continues. If now 43. R B7 BxQ


Q x Q ; 41 P x Q , R Q 2 ; 42
R B8, R x P ; 43 R x B , and Or R x Q ; 44 R x R , K t x
the threat of K t B7ch., wins. P ; but not 44 . . ., B x R ; 45
If 41 . . ., R K 4 ; 42 P Q7, Kt B7 Mate. A perfect dem
B x P ; 43 K t B7 Mate. And onstration of the power even
of an unsound attack and of
if 41 . . ., R x P ; 42 R B7,
B x R ; 43Kt xBM ate . the inexorable justice that must
come if the defence is correct.
4 1- Q0 4 Resigns.
SCHLECHTER LASKER 87

C. Schlechter (1873-1918), of Vienna, early earned the unenvi


able title of drawing master, though at his best he was as
fine a stylist as any player of his time. However, when he shared
1st prize both at Vienna, 1908, and Prague, 1908, he was recognised
for the great player he was. In 1910 he played and drew a match
for the world title and oddly enough he only failed to win by not
playing for a draw. He died of under-nourishment in 1918.

GAME 27 9. P KB4
10. 0 0 B KKt2
SCHLECHTER-LASKER
I f P Q4; 11 K t x P .
7th match game, Berlin, 1910.
11. B B4 Q Kt3
12. B QKt3
S ic il ia n D e f e n c e
There is nothing in 12 Q B3,
1. P K4 P QB4 B Kt2.
2. Kt KB3 Kt QB3
3. P Q4 P xP 12. B QR3
4. K txP Kt B3 13. Kt R4 Q Q5
5. Kt QB3 P K K t3 14- Q x Q
6. B QB4 P Q3
7. KtxKt The immediate exchange of
queens is virtually forced, for
Introducing the sharp Mag if 14 Q B3, then Q K5 ; 15
nus Smith variation. QxQ , P x Q ; 16 P B4, O
7. PxKt O ; and Black gains a move on
8. P K5 Kt Kts the variation actually played.
9. P K6
14. BxQ
Magnus Smiths own analysis 15. P B4 O 0
continued 9 B B4, P Q 4; 10 16. QR Qi B B3
K t x P , P x K t ; n B x P , B
K3 ; 12 B B6ch., B Q2 ; 13 An inaccuracy, allowing
B x R , Q x B ; 14 O O, but a White to develop ingenious win
later improvement is 9 . . ., ning chances by sacrificing his
Q Kt3 ; 10 Q B3, B B4 ; QB. Better was either Kt K4
11 P x P , P x P ; 12 0 O, or B K4 blocking the bishop.
O O O ; 13 KR K i, P
Q4; 14 P KR3. Black is just 17. KR K i P Kt4
able to evolve a satisfactory 18. B x Q P PxB
defence against the text. 19. R x P
88 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD
(b l a c k ) LASKER K ti, K t K5 ; 25 P K7 dis.
ch., K Kt2 ; and the pawns
are held.
21. B B3
Still not B x R ; 22 P K7
dis. ch., K K t2 ; 23 P x B ,
K t B3 ; 24 K t B5 (the move
not available to White in the
previous note), B B i ; 25
B R4.
22. R x P B QKt2
Insufficient would be B K t
(w h i t e ) SCHLECHTER
4 ; 23 R Q6, B K4 (BxK t;
24 B xB, R K2 ; 25 B Q7) ;
Position before Black's 19th move.
24 P KR3, B x R ; 25 P x B ,
(D ia g r a m 36) Kt B3; 26 K t B5.
Now White has a powerful 23. R B7 B K5
attacking position with the 24. K t B3 B x Kt
threats of P B5 followed by If B Q5 ; 25 K t x B , P x
P K7 dis. ch., and of P KR3 K t ; 26 R x KP, B x P ch .; 27
and P K7 followed by R x B . K Kt2, K t B3; 28 R
Only the most determined and QKt4, B - K 6 ; 29 R(4) K t7,
accurate resistance by Black and Black is in zugswang.
can hold the game. He has to
let his QBP go in order to hold 25. P x B K t K4
up the dangerous K P and
whether he tries 1 9 . . . , B K 4 ; Blacks defence has been so far
or 19 . . ., B K2 ; the reply is successful that the worst threats
still 20 P B5. are over though the passed
pawns remain. He is now able
19. B K4 to interpolate a little attack of
20. P B5 KR K i his own.
Not 20 . . ., B x R ; 21 P 26. R Qi K t B6ch.
K7 dis. ch., K Kt2 ; 22 P xB , 27. K B i K t x Pch.
KR K i ; 23 P Q7, winning. 28. K K i
21. P Kt3
Of course not 28 K K2, B
Now the subtlety of Black's B6ch.
defence in choosing 19 . . . , B
K4 ; is dear. If 21 P KR3, 28. K t B6ch.
B R7ch.; 22 K R i, B x R ; 29. K K2 K t K4
23 P x B , K t x P c h . ; 24 K 30. R(i) Q7
SCHLECHTER LASKER 89
Recovering the pawn, for if R x R, with a winning rook end
30 . . ., P K R 3 ; 31 R Kt ing.
7ch., K B i ; 32 R R7,
threatening mate. Black's de 39- QR B i
40. P K7 Kt Kt3
fence still has to be extremely
accurate. 41. B B7 RxKP
42. B x Kt B Ktsch.
30. P B5
Although he has two pieces
31. R Kt7ch. K R i
32. RxKtP B Q6ch.
en prise Black can save both of
them owing to the position of
Now Black suddenly produces White's king, and in fact this
a threat to win the game him enables him to save the game.
self. Of course White cannot He now succeeds in remaining
reply 33 K Q2 because of a piece ahead.
Kt B6ch.
43- K B i R K8ch.
33. K Q i PxP 44- K Kt2 PxB
45- R x K t P B B4
The point. White cannot play 46. R B6 B K 5
34 R x K t because of P x P ; 35 47 - R x P R Kt8ch.
R B7, R K B i ; winning. 48. K - R 3 BxP
Drawn.
34. PxP K t Kt3
35- R Q5 B K5 The culmination of a magni
36. R Q6 B B4 ficently accurate defence. Both
37- B Q5 QR K ti of White's advanced passed
38. P B6 Kt B i pawns have fallen and Black
39. R QKt7 now threatens B Kt4 followed
by R x P Mate. White has
Temporarily holding the KP, nothing better than to take
for if now 39 . . ., K t x P ; 40 perpetual check.
90 BATtLfiS-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

Jacques Mieses (b. 1865) played in his first masters tournament


at H astin gs, 1895, and what may be his last at Hastings, 1946. His
style was extremely aggressive and he delighted in such risky
gambits as the Danish. This brought him uneven results in tourna
ments, little success in matches, but frequent brilliancy prizes.

GAME 28 R K i would lead to varia


tions similar to those in the
MIESES-CAPABLANCA previous note. He did not like
them then, and similarly prefers
Exhibition game, Berlin, 1913. now to indulge in complications
based upon the threat of K t
C e n t r e G am e K7CI1., which would allow sim
plification without retreat.
1. P K4 P K4 13. B -K 3
2. P Q4 P xP
3. Q xP Kt QB3 Naturally not B x R , Kt
4. Q K 3 Kt B3 K7ch.; winning the queen.
5. K t QB3 B Kt5 Also, if P QB3, Kt K 7ch.;
6. B Q2 O O i 4 B x K t , R x B ; and White
7. 0 0 0 R K i cannot play 15 P x B because of
Q x P Mate.
By simple play against
Whites risky opening Black has 13- B Kt5
secured the win of a pawn. If
now 8 P B3, P Q4 ; and then Overcomplicated. Correct
if 9 B Q3, P Q5. wasR Kt5 ; i 4 B x K t , R x B ;
8. Q Kt3 K txP 15 P QB3, B x P ; 16 P x B ,
9. Kt x Kt R x Kt R K K t5 ; 17 Q K3, Q x
10. B KB4 Q B3 Pch.
[Diagram 37]
Not liking P Q3 which
would allow White a strong 14. Kt Kt5
attack for the pawn. If now n
B x P , Q K3 ; 12 K Ktx, White must exercise the ut
R K8; 13 B K2, R x R c h . ; most care. 14 QR K ti, K t
K7ch.; 15 B x K t , B x B ; is
14 B x R, Q K8 ; 15 Q B3,
far too unenterprising. 14 P
P Q 3; with the threat of
KB3 only gives equality after
Q -K 2 . R x B ; 15QX B. K 1 4 P QB
11. Kt R3 P Q3 3, then B x P is a possible reply,
12. B Q3 K t Q5 for if 15 P x B , K t K 7ch.; 16
MIESES CAPABLANCA 91
(b l a c k ) capablanca
16. B x K t RxB
17. K t K4
A tactical finesse, enabling
him to capture on K4 instead of
on K2. With the exchange a-
head in this simplified position,
any player might expect to win.
17- RxKt
18. Qx R Q Kt4ch.
The alternative of B B 4 ;
19 Q x P, Q Q i ; was not
enticing.
19. P B4 Q Kt4
(WHITE) MIESES
20. P B3 B B4
Position before White's 14th move. 21. KR K i Q B3
( D i a g r a m 37) 22. R Q5
An error of judgment. He
B x Kt, Q x Pch. ; (the White cannot force the K side and get
queen was defending this on the a quick mate by weight of
previous move) ; 17 K-Kti, R material, so the logical course
Kt5 Mate. And finally if 14 was 22 Qx Q , P x Q ; 23 R
B x K t , R x B ; 15 P QB3, K7, with a winning end-game.
B x R ; 16 R x B , R x B ; 17
Qx R , B B 4 ; with a pawn 22. Q Q2
23. P B5
ahead. Blacks combination is
seen in all its ingenuity. And here Q K7 with the
same idea was better. Black
14. R xB could not reply Q Kt5 be
The only move. If White now cause of 24 Q K8ch. Now
takes the rook. Black plays B x that White has wasted two
R and still comes out a pawn moves. Black, whose position
ahead. still does not appear to hold
any promise, brings all his
15. Q x B K t K7ch. pieces to bear on Whites king
with an economy of moves that
By his last move White has is quite remarkable.
proved the whole combination
to have been unsound after all. 23- P QB3
24. R Q2 P Q4
Black must now lose the ex
change, for if R K 2 ; 16 B 25. Q B3 B K2
xPch., K B i ; 17 R x K t , Preventing P B6 and
wins a piece. threatening B Kt4.
92 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD
26. R(2) K2 B B3 (b l a c k ) capablanca

27. Q R5 P KR3
28. P KKt4 K R2
29. K K ti R Qi
The first stage. P Q5 is
threatened.
30. R Qi P B4
31. Q R3 Q R5
32. R(2) Q2 Q Ksch.
33. K R i P QKt4
And now the threat of P
Kt5 is worse still. The way in
which Black has seized the
initiative is an object lesson in (WHITE) MIESES
the correct use of material. Position before Black's 39th move.
34. Q Kt2 Q R5 (D ia g r a m 38)
35. K K ti
Not R x P, B Q5 ; or even
Q xRch. 41. Q -Q 6 P -B 6
35. P -K t5 42. R QB2 PxP
36. P x P Q xP 43- R Q3 Q K5
37- P Qr 3 White has battled hard to
If now R x P , R Q K t i; 38 stave off the attack and just
r (5) Q2 P B5 ; with varia when he seems to have suc
tions similar to those in the ceeded Black prevents R x R by
actual game. the double threat of Q K8ch.
and R x R.
37. Q R5
38. R x P R Q K ti 44. R Qi R QB6
39. R(5) Q2
[Diagram 38] And with this beautiful con
clusion Black settles the matter.
39. P B5 He has not only escaped defeat
but has actually won a lost
Much stronger than Q x RP.
game.
40. Q Kt3 R Ktfx Resigns
Not P B 6; 41 Q x R , P x For if 45 R Q2, R x R ; 46
R ; 42 R x P. The text move, R x R , Q K8ch.; and if 45
followed by P B6, makes de Q Q2, R x P ; the very move
fence of the RP an urgent neces White has fought so long to
sity. prevent.
CAPABLANCA MARSHALL 93
GAME 29 KR3, Q R5 ; 15 Q B3,
would merely be a transposition
CAPABLANCA-MARSHALL of moves.

New York tournament, 1918. 13. Kt Kt5


The attack begins and with it
R u y L opez
a period of intense crisis. If in
I.
reply to the text move White
P K4 P K4 plays 14 P x Kt, then Q R5 ;
2. Kt KB3 Kt QB3 15 P Kt3, KB x P ; 16 P x B ,
3- B Kt5 P -Q R 3
B R4
QxPch.; 17 K Bi, B x P ; 18
4- Kt B3 Q B2 (R K2, B R6ch.; 19
5- O O B K2
6. R K i
R Kt2, Q xRch.; 20 K K i,
P - Q K t4 QR Kich.), B R6ch.; 19
7- B K t3 0 0 K K2, QR K ich .; 20 K
8. p- b 3 P -Q 4 Qi, B Ktsch.; winning. Or
The Marshall Variation, in 15 Q B3, Q R7ch.; 16 K
which a pawn is sacrificed for a Bi, B x P ; 17 Q xB , Q R8
strong attack, was introduced ch.; 18 K K2, QR Kich.
to master play in this game.
14- 0B3 Q R5
9. PxP Kt x P !5. P Q4
10. K txP K txK t
11. RxKt K t B3 (b l a c k ) m ar sh all
12. R K i
Subsequently 12 P Q4, B
Q3 ; 13 R K2, was preferred
as a defence, but Capablanca is
out of the book and has to im
provise. He said afterwards
that as soon as Marshall allowed
him to play the Ruy Lopez, he
suspected a prepared variation
was coming, for Marshall had
never faced a Ruy Lopez from
Capablanca since his unhappy
experience against it in the
match of 1909. Capablanca (w h i t e ) capablanca
anticipated that the attack
would be terrific. Position before Black's 15th move.
(D i a g r a m 39)
12. B Q3
13. P K R 3 15. KtxP
P -Q 4 . Kt K t5 ; 14 P - 16. R K2
94 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

If 16 Q x Kt, B R7ch (B A last attempt to revivify his


Kt6 would allow the brilliant flagging attack, but White is
reply 17 QxPch. , R x Q ; 18 now poised for his counter-
R K8 Mate, showing how thrust. The problem of Q side
delicately the game is now development is to be solved by
balanced); 17 K B i, B K t the advance of the Q side pawns.
6 ; 18 Q K2 (now if Q x Pch.
the queen is captured with a 27. P x P BxP
check), B x P ; 19 P x B, QR 28. P Kt4 B -Q 3
K i ; 20 Q x R , Q x P c h . ; win 29. P R4 P -Q R 4
ning. After the text the attack 30. P x K t P PxP
must ease a little as Black loses 31- R R6 PxP
a piece. 32. K t x P B K ts
33- P Kt6
16. B KKt5
The picture has now changed
The attack is continued with completely, and Black is help
the utmost ferocity. If instead less against the passed pawn,
16 . . ., K t x P c h . ; 17 P x K t , for the moment his rook leaves
B x P ; 18 R K4, or 16 . . ., the first rank. White has Q x
B x P ; 1 7 P X B , K t x P c h . ; 18 Pch., available again.
K B i, K t K t 4 ; 19 Q Kt2,
but 16 . . ., K t Kt5 ; 17 B 33. B x Kt
KB4, B Kt2 ; 18 P Q5, K t 34. BxB P R3
B3 ; was a playable alterna 35. P K t7 R K6
tive. 36. Bx Pc h .

17. PxB B R7ch. Forcing the pawn home, for


18. K B i B Kt6 if in reply 36 . . ., K R i ; 37
19. R x Kt R R8, R x Q ; 38 Rx Rc h. ,
K R2 ; 39 R R8ch., K x R ;
White has fought his way 40 P Kt8=Qch., or 36 . . .,
into slightly calmer water. He K R2; 37 Q B5ch., K R i;
obtains two pieces for the rook, 38 Bx Pc h. , K x B ; 39 Q
but is still behindhand in de Kt6ch., K R i ; 40 Q x P
velopment. Mate.
19. Q R8ch. 36. R xB
20. K K2 BxR 37. P Kt8=Qch. K R2
21. B Q2 B R5 38. RxPch. Resigns.
22. Q R3 QR Kich.
23- K Q3 Q B8ch. It is mate in two after 38 . . . ,
24. K B2 B B7 K x R (P x R ; 39 Q x R Mate);
25- Q B 3 Q Kt8 39 Q R8ch., K Kt3 or 4 ; 40
26. B 5 P -Q B 4 Q R5 Mate.
RUBINSTEIN ALEKHINE 95

A. Alekhine (1892-1946), Russian by birth and French by adop


tion, was world champion from 1927 to 1946, except for the period
I935-7* At his best he was perhaps the most completely equipped
and gifted chessplayer of all time, at home in open and close posi
tions, orthodox and experimental, sound in theory and fiery in
imagination. In his early years overshadowed by Lasker and
Capablanca he showed by his decisive victories in such tournaments
as San Remo, 1930 and Bled, 1931, that in the fullness of maturity
he was as great if not greater than they.

GAME 30 II. Kt R4 P B4
12. KtxB RPxKt
RUBINSTEINALEKHINE 13. PxP KtxP
14- Q -K 2 KKt K5
London tournament, 1922. 15- KtxKt KtxKt
16. Q Kt4 Kt B3
Sl a v D e fe n c e 17- Q B3 Q -B 2
18. p QKt3 Q -K 4
1. Kt KB3 P Q4 19. R Rz Kt K5
2. K t KB3 20. P R5
P -Q 4
3. p- b 4 P B3 Continuing the attack on his
4. K t B3 PxP K4 by threatening R R4 at a
5- P QR4 B B4 suitable moment.
6. P -K 3 P K 3
7. BxP B QKts 20. K R -Q i
8. O O 0 0 21. B Kt2 B B6
q. Kt K2 Not 2 1 . . . , Q KB4 ; 22 R
The theme of this opening is R4 B Q7 ; 23BXKP.
control of Whites K4, and with 22. B x B KtxB
the text move Rubinstein
evolves an elaborate plan to get 23- R B2 P QKt4
rid of Black's QB. The more The threat is 24 KR B i, K t
usual play is Q K2. From Q4; 25 P K4, and White
this point the battle for control controls the key squares and
of the vital square is fought out comes out with the better game.
with all the intensity and per
sistence of which the players 24. t x P e . p . PxP
are capable. 25. KR B i
9- QKt Q2 Maroczy recommended Q
10. Kt Kt3 B Kt3 B4 here.
g6 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

25. Kt R7 (BLACK) ALEKHINE

26. R K i P QKt4
27. B B i Kt B6
28. Q B4

If 28 P K4, P Kt5 ; and


the first stage of the game ends
in equality. White prefers a line
which will allow him to use the
open files in the centre later.
28. 0x0
29. PxQ P K t5
30. P K t3 R R6
Si- B B4 K B i
32. K Kt2 K K2
R K5 R QB i Position before Black's 42nd move.
33-
34- R -O 2 R -Q i (D i a g r a m 40)
35- R B2 R -Q B i
36. P R4 Kt0 4 Threatening R Q8 followed
37- R(2) K2 by R(2) Q7 Mate.

Now White has succeeded in 42. R R2


developing a strong game in the 43. R Q8 K t K5
centre. The immediate threat 44. R(2) 05 R 03
is 38 R x Kt and if 37 . . Kt Not Kt Q3 ; 45 R KKt 8,
Kt3 ; 38 B x P , P x B ; 39 R x Kt x P ; 46 R(5) - 08 , K t - Q
Pch., K B2 ; 40 R x Kt, R x 3; 47 R Kt 8.
P ; 41 R Kt7ch., K B3 ; 42
R(2) K7, with advantage. 45. R K Kt 8 R R7
Whites attack has reached
37. Kt B6 its full force. He is certain to
38. R Q2 R B3 recover his pawn and he is
39. P R5 threatening even worse things.
Black swings to counter-attack
Trying to increase his pres just in time.
sure by sacrificing a pawn, the
object of which is primarily to 46. RxKtPch. K B i
weaken Black's KP. A new in 47. R Kt8ch.
tensity comes into the game. Still neither player can tip the
scales in his own favour. White
39- P B3 must now adopt this very in
40. R K3 PxP genious method either to force a
41. P B5 P K4 draw or to get back to intercept
42. R(3)03 the attack.
RUBINSTEIN ALEKHINE 97
47. K xR 55- B Kt8 K Q3
48. R Q2 dis.ch. K Kt2 56. B B7 K B4
49. R x R(2) R Q7 57. B x P Kt x P
50. R x R K txR
51. B Q5 Allowing White to bring his
king across at last, but now the
A drawn ending has been Black king is also in range.
reached after all.
58. K B3 K -Q 5
51- P -K 5 59. B B7
52. P B4
But this is a serious error, for A last effort to retain some
not only does it give Black a chances by 59 . . ., Kt Q7ch.;
passed pawn but it enables him 60 K K2, P Kt6 ; 61 B x P,
to keep the White king out of K t x B ; 62 P Kt4, and Black
action in a comer. Much better must now be careful for if 62 ...,
was the line suggested by Bum : Kt B4 ; 63 P Kt5, K t Q2 ;
52 P -K t4 , P R5 (K R3 ; 53 64 P Kt6, wins. Correct is
K K t3, K Kt4 ; 54 P B 6 2. .., K K 5 ; 63 P - K t5 , Kt
4ch., P x P e . p . ; 55 PX P, K x Qsch. (KxP(4); 6 2 K X P ,
B P ; 56 B -B 7 ) ; 53 K - R 3 , draws) ; 64 K K i, KxP(4) ;
Kt B6; 54 P Kt5 (B xP , winning. The reply chosen by
Kt Kt4ch.), P x P ; 55 B x P , Black crashes any chances re
Kt Q7 ; 56 B B2, K B3 ; maining for White.
57 K Kt4, Kt B8 ; 58 B 59. K -Q 6
Qi, drawing. 60. B x K t K Qy
52. P K6 61. B B4 P Kt6
53- K K ti K B i 62. B x P P K7
54. K Kt2 K K2 Resigns.
98 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

R. Reti (1889-1929), a Czech, was one of the most original


masters of the twentieth century and a leader of the school which
revolted against the dogmas of Tarrasch and was dubbed Hyper-
modem. The chief feature of their theory was that occupation of
a square or squares was often less effective and certainly less
flexible than remote control. The excesses of the Hypermodems
soon faded but their teachings left their mark and brought new
vitality into a chess that was becoming too orthodox. A. Becker was
a prominent Austrian master who frequently figured in the prize
list of continental tournaments.

GAME 31 B R6, because of 8 . . ., Kt


KKt5.
RETIBECKER
8. B Qz
9. Q Q2 R K ti
Vienna tournament, 1923. 10. B R6 Kt K i
11. P KR4
R e ti System
Indicating his intention of
1. Kt KB3 Kt KB3 forsaking the positional basis of
2. P B4 P B4 the opening and of going in for
3 . P KKt3 P K K t3 a combinative attack. The
KRP is to be given up to open
Whites first three moves the file for the rook, but the
constitute the Reti System whole idea is somewhat specu
which was introduced to master lative and out of key.
play at this time. Blacks sym
metrical defence causes White 11. B Kts
no trouble but the more aggres 12. P R5 PxP
sive replies based on 1 . . ., P If B x P , White can $lay 13
Q 4; which call for a high de Kt R2, Q Q2 (preventing P
gree of positional exactness on KKt4); 14 P B3, P K
White's part, had not yet been Kt4 ; 15 Q x P , B Kt3 ; 16 Kt
developed. Kt4, with a strong game.
4- B Kt2 B Kt2 13. K t KR4 Q Q2
5- Kt B 3 Kt B 3 14. B K4 K t Q5
6. P -Q 3 0 0
Threatening to break up
7- B K3 P -Q 3
8. P KR3
Whites attack completely by
15 . .., Kt B7ch.; 16 Q x Kt,
Not yet Q Q2 threatening BxB.
RETI BECKER 99
15* O O O P Kt4 P x P ; and wins. White must
16. P B3 P Kt5 therefore allow Black to sacri
17. Kt Kt5 fice his knight for the complete
disruption of the White pawns.
(BLACK) BE CK E R
18. K B2 K txP
19. PxB K txB
20. P x Kt Q K3
21. Kt B5
A terrible position for White,
faced as he is with a threat to
his bishop, threats to three
pawns, in two cases with check,
and after the fall of the QBP
with a threat to the knight. He
has to stake everything on his
attack on Black's king.
21. QxBPch.
22. K K ti QxKPch.
(W HITE) R ETI 23. K R i PxP
Position before Black's 17th move. Black has secured the re
(D ia g r a m 41) markable and very unusual
bargain of six pawns for a
minor piece. Less good would
Black has now developed his be 23 . . ., Q x P ; inviting a
own attack and White is in direct attack on his king by 24
difficulties. If 17 P x B, P x K t ; K t x B , K t x K t ; 25 QR K
18 P xB P , Q R5 (threatening Kti, nor is R x Kt satisfactory
Q R6ch.); 19 QR Bi, B x because of 24 Q Kt5, Q K4 ;
B ; 20 Q xB, Q B7 Mate. Or 25 B xB , Kt x B ; 26 QR K i,
if 17 Kt Q5, K t x P c h . ; 18 Q B3 ; 27 Kt x Pch., winning.
K K ti (K B2, Q Rsch.; or 24. B x B KtxB
QxKt, BxBch.), Kt B6ch.;
19 Kt x Kt, P x K t ; 20 Q After 24 . . . . Q x K t ; 25
Kt5, R x P c h . ; followed by B x R , R x K t ; 26BxP,White
Q R5. The QKt file must with a rook for five somewhat
therefore be kept closed. loose pawns is better off.
17. K t x Pch. 25. K t x K t KxKt
26. Q R6ch. K K ti
A fine move, for if in reply 18
Q x Kt, B x Bch.; and Black is An error under time pressure.
two pawns ahead with a com After K R i White would have
fortable game, while if 18 K great difficulty in saving the
K ti, K t B6ch.; 19 P x K t , game, for if 27 QR K K ti,
100 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

R K t i ; 28 Kt x QP, P x K t ; 28. Q x Rch.


29 Q B6ch., R K t2 ; 30 Q x 29. Q x Q R K ti
QP, R QBi. As it is White is 30. R x Rch. Resigns.
able to threaten R x Pch., with
The continuation might be
deadly effect.
30 . . ., K x R ; 31 Kt B7,
27. QR K K ti K R i R Q B i ; 32 Kt Q5, R K i ;
28. R x P 33 Q R4. K B i ; 34 Q x RP,
or 30 . . ., R x R ; 31 K K ti,
The first pawn Black loses is P QR3 ; 32 K t B7, P Q
fatal to him. As curious and re R4; 33 Kt Q5, P K 3; 34
markable a game as any ever Kt B6, R Kt2 ; 35 Q R8
played. ch. Superior weight must tell.

E. Znosko-Borovsky (b. 1884), a prominent Russian master in


the years before the First World War, is best known for his lively
and excellent treatises on various phases of the game and is
perhaps the greatest teacher of elementary chess of all time.

GAME 32 Whites formidable looking


pawn advances in this opening,
ZNOSKO-BOROVSKYALEKHINE White has his initiative to de
fend, and with this move Black
Paris tournament, 1925. begins undermining Whites
centre.
A l e k h in e D e f e n c e 11. P QR3 P x P
12. B Kt5
I. P K4 K t KB3 No doubt hoping for 12 . . .,
2. P K5 K t Q4 B K2 ; 13 B x B, Q x B ; 14
3- P -Q B 4 Kt Kt3 Kt QKt5, Kt B3 ; 15 Kt
4- P 0 4 P03 Q6ch., with a good game,
5- P B4 PxP though after 12 . . . , Q Q2 ; he
6. BPxP Kt B3 can achieve little, and the
7- B K 3 B B4 simple 12 Kt x P was sounder.
8. K t KB3 P k 3
9- Kt B3 Kt Kt5 12. P x Kt
10. R B i P B4 A startling reply indicating
As Tartakower has said that he is going all out to win.
ZNOSKO-BOROVSKY ALEKHINE IO I

13. B x Q R xB (B L A C K ) A L E K H IN E

The alternative line was P x


P ; 14 B x K t , P x R = Q ; 15
QxQ, Kt B7ch.; 16 K B2,
P x B ; and Black, as in the
text, has a rook and a minor
piece for the queen, but chances
of a more rapid development
than in the line selected. He
prefers to retain a more com
plicated position at some cost in
development.
14. Q Kt3 PxP
15. Q x P Kt R5 (WHITE) Z N OSK O-B OR OV SK Y
16. Q R i
Position before White's 19th move.
He cannot satisfactorily con ( D i a g r a m 42)
tinue protecting his QB2, but
possibly a better line was 16 B6, P QKt4 (if B QB4 ; 21
Q Kt3, K t B4 ; 17 Q K3, P x P , B x K t ; 22 Qx B) ; 21
Kt(5) K6ch.; 18 B x K t , Kt P B7, R QBi ; 22 K t x Kt
x B c h . ; 19 K K2, B B4 ; P, while if 19 . . ., B x P ; 20
20 Q- Kt5, Kt x Rch.; but not B Ktsch., K K2 ; 21 Kt
16 Q KB2, B B4 ; 17 Q Kt3, winning a piece.
Kt3, Kt B7ch.; 18 R x K t ,
B x R ; threatening R Q8ch.; 19. K txP
20 K K2, K t B6 Mate. 20. B Ktsch. Kt Q2
21. Q B3 P QR3
16. K t B7ch.
17. R x Kt BxR Now Blacks difficulties with
18. Kt Q4 his development become ap
parent for if 2 1 . . . , B K2 ; 22
Playing to bring his superior Q' B7 (preventing O O), P
weight to bear. If 18 B K2 QR3 ; 23 B R4, P QKt4 ;
(against R Q8ch.), B QB4. 24 B Qi, and O O is still
impossible because of 25 K t
18. B Kt3
B6.
[Diagram 42]
22. BxKtch. R x B
19- P B5 23. Q B8ch.
The point. He now develops Preparing to give up a third
his bishop with good effect piece to keep Black tied up. If
through the threat of B 23 O O, at once, Black has a
Ktsch., winning a piece. If in choice of B x P ; 24 Q x B , R x
reply 19 . . . , P Q R 3; 20 P K t; or 23 . . P K t3 ;
102 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

threatening R x K t and B Q 30. RxRch. B x R


B4. While if 23 Kt B3, B 31. Q B8ch. B Qi
Q6; 24 Q B8ch., R Q i; 25 32. Q K6ch. B K2
Q xP , B x P ; 26 Q B6ch., K Drawn.
K 2 ; and Black obtains a
White can hope for no more
quick deployment of forces.
now, while Black cannot escape
perpetual check in his exposed
23. R Qi
24. Q x P R x Kt situation, for if 32 .. ., K B i ;
25. Q B6ch. R Q2 some such line follows as 33
26. 0 0 B Q6 Q B 5ch., K K2 ; 34 Q K t
27. R x P 5ch. (or P QR4. B x P ; 35 Q
Kt4, R B i ; 36 Q Kt4ch.),
The point of Whites 23rd K K 3 ; 35 Q x P , R - K i ;
and 24th moves. Black must 36 P QR4. B B3 ; 37 Q
now exert all his resources to K t3, R B i ; 38 Q Kt3ch.,
save the game. K Q2 ; 39 P K6ch., K
B2 ; 40 Q Kt3ch., K B i ;
27. B B4ch. 41 Q Q3> K K t2; 42 Q x
28. K R i B Kt4 KRPch., B B 2 ; 43 Q Kt
29. QxPch. R K2 ich., K R2 ; 44 P K7.

E. D. Bogolyubov (b. 1889), a Russian by birth, adopted Ger


many as his country after his internment there during the First
World War. He rapidly achieved prominence in the 1920s and his
vigorous and aggressive style won him a number of tournaments,
notably Moscow, 1925. By 1929 he was regarded as a challenger
for the world title, but was soundly defeated twice, in 1929 and
1934-
S. Tartakower (b. 1887), also bom in Russia, later took French
nationality. An original and aggressive player, he always seeks to
escape from the book and this has perhaps cost him a number of
prizes. He has, however, won many tournaments, as for example
at Liege, 1930, and at Hastings, 1946.

GAME 33 P o n zia n i O p e n in g

TARTAKOWER-BOGOLYUBOV I. P K4 P K4
2.
London tournament, 1927. 3. P B3 K t B3
TARTAKOWER BOGOLYUBOV IO3

Stronger and more usual is 13. B Q2 O 0 O


P Q4 at once. 14* B K i Q K2
4. P Q4 P -Q 4 If 14 . . ., Q R 4 ; 15 P
5. K P x P QxP KR3, and if 14 . . Q R6 ; 15
6. B K2 P K5 Kt Kts.
As a result of his choice on
the 3rd move Black must now 15. B x K t QxKt
decide between this not very 16. B B3 Q Kt3
satisfactory move, and 6 . . ., 17. Kt Q2 P B3
P x P ; which leads to positions Preferring to hold his K4
akin to some in the Danish rather than try and fight it out
Gambit or the Goring Gambit, for his K5 by P B4.
where White gets a strong
though not decisive attack at 18. B K t3 P KR4
the cost of a pawn. 19. R K K ti P R5
7. K K t Q2 P K6 20. B B2 Q B2
21. P K4 B Q3
A sharp move, putting a keen 22. B K3 K t R4
edge on the game. It is not
altogether satisfactory, how A rather pointless move. His
ever, for though Whites king counterweight to Whites centre
side is broken up he secures lies on the other wing.
control of the centre.
23. P Kt4 B Rsch.
8. P x P QxKtP 24. K K i
9. B B3 Q R6
10. Q K2 Kt K K ts Safer was K B i. The king
comes under fire on the other
Preventing 11 Q Kt2, or n flank.
B Kt2, by the threat to the
KP. 24. K t B3
25. K t B4 B x RP
11. K t K4 Q Rsch. [Diagram 43]
12. K Qi
A counter-attack just in time,
If 12 Kt Kt3, B Q3 ; 13 for he was threatened with Kt
QKt2, K t x R P ; with ad Kt2, and if instead 25 . . .,
vantage. Kt K2 ; 26 P Kts, B x K tP ;
12. B Q2 27 K t x Bch., R x K t ; 28 Q x
B, with good chances of a suc
He could retain some say in cessful storming attack. Of
the centre by 12 . . ., P B4 ; course if now 26 Q x B, Q x K t ;
13 B x Kt, P x Kt. White now 27 R x P, Q x Pch. ; while 26
has time to work his QB round R Kt2, B Kt6ch.; leaves
to the K side. Black reasonably safe.
104 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD
(b l a c k ) b o g o l y u b o v of 33 B Kt4ch., K K t i ; 34
B K6, Q B3 ; 35 B B2. He
must therefore stake every
thing on his K side pawns.

33. Q KB2 P Kt5


34. B R i
If 34 B x K t P , R x B ; 35
B xPch ., K K t i ; 36 Q x R ,
Q x Bch.; 37 Q B2 (K K ti,
R K tic h .; 38 K R i, Q x
Pch.; or 37 K K i, Q x P ;
threatening Q R8ch.), Q R6
ch.; 38 K K2 (K K i , Q
(w h i t e ) TA RTAK OW ER R8ch.), Q B 6 ; 39 K B i, Q
Position before White's 26th move. R6ch.; drawing.
(D ia g r a m 43) 34- R xP

26. K t Kt2 BxR A surprise, but not the best


27. B x B KtxQP move. With 34 . . . , P B5 ; 35
Q x P (B x P, R Bi), Q x Qch.;
He must lose another piece, 36 B x Q , R B i ; his pawns
for if 27 . . P Q K t4; 28 K t should give him at least a draw.
x B , P x K t ; 29 Q R6ch., K
Q2; 30 B Kt4ch., and White 35- B B4
will have two bishops for rook
and pawn. Attack and counter After 35 B x R, Q x B ; Black
attack now continue at a fast would threaten 3 6 ... , P Kt6 ;
pace. 37 Q Q2 Q R8ch.; 38 K
K2, Q X R. The reply 36 B B4,
28. P x K t B B3 would allow 3 6 ... , P K t6 ; 37
29. P Q5 B xP Q Kt2, Q Kt4ch.; 38 K
He prefers a fighting line, K ti, R K7 ; while 36 Q B4,
even at the cost of another would be answered by Q R8
piece, rather than 29 . . ., B ch.; 37 B K ti, Q R6ch.;
Q2 ; 30 R B i, threatening 31 38 K B2, P Kt6ch.; 39 K
B R2, when Black has little B3, Q R8 Mate.
hope of saving the game.
35- R -K 5
30. P x B KR K i
31. B K3 P KB4 Thrill follows thrill now that
32. K B i P KKt4 Black is committed to an all out
effort. He must close one of the
The likely looking P B5 two bishops' diagonals, for a
will not win the piece because quiet move such as R(4) Q i
ALEKHINE CAPABLANCA 105
would allow 36 Q x QRP with a B x R P . Q x P ; 49 Kt B4,P
terrific attack. K7; with very good chances.
Now it is easy for White.
36. B xR PxB
37. K K ti P Kt6 46. K B3 K K3
47. R xP P R7
Not 37 . . R K B 4 ; 38
48. Q B6ch. R Q3
Q xQRP, R x B ; 39 R Qi,
P B3 ; 40 Q R8ch., K 2 ; Or 48 . . ., K B4 ; 49 R
41 Q Q8 Mate. B7ch.
38. Q K3 Q B3 49. Q K8ch. Resigns.
39. R K ti R KB4
For if 49.. ., K Q4 ; 50 Q
White has consolidated his R5ch., K K3; 51 QB7 Mate.
position, and Black with his A titanic struggle from start to
material inferiority cannot finish.
afford moves like P Kt3. This
attack, however, leads no
where and now the Black pawns
begin to fall.
40. QxRP R Q4 GAME 34
41 Q R8ch. K Q2
42. Q xP Q Qsch. ALEKHINECAPABLANCA
43. K R i P K6
44. R QBi
22nd match game,
Correct was 44 Q x Pch. first, Buenos Aires, 1927.
defending the bishop. Now
Black can get out of his diffi P illsbury A ttack
culties.
I. P 0 4 Kt KB3
44. P Kt7ch.
2. P -Q B 4 p k 3
The point. White can no 3- Kt QB3 P - 4
longer answer 45 K R2 be 4- B Kt5 B K2
cause of 45 . . . , Q xBch. 5- P k 3 0 0
6. Kt B3 QKt Q2
45. K xP P R6ch. 7 - R B i p b 3
8. B 03 PxP
Missing his opportunity.
After 45 . . ., Q Ksch.; 46 9- B x P Kt Q4
10. B x B Q xB
K K ti (K R3, Q B6ch.;
11. Kt K4
47 K x P , R R4 Mate or K
Bi, Q x B ch .; 47 K Kti, Q If 11 0 O, Black frees his
Kt6ch.; 48 K Ri, Q R6ch.; game with Kt x Kt ; 12 R x Kt,
49 K Kti, R Kt4ch.), R Kt P K4. The text move, how
4ch.; 47 B x R , Q x Q ; 48 ever, leads to a drawish position
io 6 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

unless he can play O O first 19. Kt Kts P KR3


because of the check on his 20. Kt(5) K 4 K K2
QKty.
If 20 . . ., P QB4; 21 P
11. Kt(4) B3 B4, P x Pch.; 22 R x P, with
by far the freer game.
If Kt(2) B3 he not only
reduces his chances of playing 21. P B4 P KB4
P K4 or P QB4 later but his 22. Kt B3 Kt B2
advanced knight would be a Now P QB4 would be
target for the White KP. answered by 23 P Q5.
12. Kt Kt3 Q Ktsch. 23. Kt(Kt) K2 P KKt4
13- Q Q2 QxQch. 24. P KR4 P Kts
14. KxQ R Qi
15. K R -Q i P x P would lead to a prob
able draw after 25 R KRi,
Better than 15 B Q3, P
R K K t i ; 26 R x P , R x P ;
K 4; 16 P x P , Kt K ts ; 17 P 27 R xP, QR K K t i ; but not
K6, Kt(2) K4 ; 18 K t x Kt,
25 . . ., P B 4 ; 26 R x P , B x
K t x K t ; 19 P x P ch ., K x P ; P ; 27 R KKti, R K K t i ;
20 R B3, P QKt4 ; as in the
28 R x P , B Kt2 ; 29 R
20th game of the match. Now
R7ch., winning a piece.
if 15 . . ., P K 4 ; 16 K K2,
P x P (P K 5 ; 17 K t K t5 ); 25. Kt Kt3 P QR4
17 R x P , with considerable 26. B Kt3 QR B i
pressure.
If 26 . . ., P K t4 ; 27 P
15- P QKt3 Q5 (P R4, P Kts ; 28 Kt
16. P K4 (B) K2, QR B i ; 29 R B2,
Kt Q4ch.; with equality), BP
Here K K2 would not be x P ( Kt xP ch . ; 28 B xKt, BP
sufficiently aggressive, Black x B ; 29 Kt xKtP) ; 28 Kt(B)
getting a solid position by K2, QR B i ; 29 Kt Q4,
16 . . ., B K t2 ; 17 R Q2, with positional compensation
K B i ; 18 R(B) Qi, K for the pawn, as in the 24th
K2; 19 P K4, P KR3. game of the match.
16. B Kt2 27. P R3 R B i
17. P K5 Kt K i 28. R Q2 B R i
Against Kt K4 Q6. 29. R(2) QB2 P B4

18. K K3 K B i Not 29 . . ., Kt Q4ch.; 30


Kt x Kt, KP x Kt (forced); 31
Allowing White to get his B xP . Black now seeks to
knights on aggressive squares. break out of his constricted
Preferable was P KR3. position.
ALEKHINE CAPABLANCA IO7

30. P x P K tx P attempt by White to make


31. Kt R4 Kt(2) R3 quick use of his rooks on the
QB file leads to an ending in
Not 31 . . Kt x B ; 32 Blacks favour, as for example
R xK tch., R x R ; 33 R xR ch., 35 P Kt4, P x P ; 36 P x P ,
K Q i ; 34 R B3, Kt R8 K t x P ; 37 R x Kt, R R6ch.;
(Kt B4 ; 35 K t x KtP, win 38 R (5 )-B 3 (K -B 2 , K t - Q
ning) J 35 K t xK tP , B Kt2 ; 6ch.), R x R c h . ; 39 R x R , K t
36 Kt Kz, R B2 ; 37 K t Q4ch.; or35 R x K t , K t x R ;
Q4 (threatening R Bi), R B 36 R xK t, KR B i ; 37 R x R ,
2 ; 38 K t x Pch., wins. R x R . White must therefore
play 35 R Qi, a change of file
(BLACK) CAPA BLA N CA which is less effective when
Black can oppose rooks, as he
can after 34 . . ., R xKt, than
in the game as played when
White controls the file. How
ever, Alekhine suggested R x
K t ; 35 K t K2, by-passing
the dangers.
35. R B3 RxRch.
36. P x R R x Kt
37. R Qi R K B i
He must withdraw his king
from the defence of the BP, for
if K t Kt2, the rook comes in
(WHITE) A L EK H IN E
at QKt6 after 38 R Q Kti.
Position before White's 32nd move.
38. R Q6ch. K K2
( D ia g r a m 44)
39. R x P K t B2
40. R R7ch.
32. B x P Black threatens Kt Kt4 or
A brilliant effort to force a Kt Q4, but now White is
win. The likely looking 32 K t x able to force the king back
KtP, loses a piece by R Q K ti; further, since if 40 . . . , R B2 ;
3 3 K tx B , R xB ch. 41 K txP ch.
32. K xB 40. K Qi
33. K t x KtP R Q K ti 41. P B4 K t(2 )-K 3
White threatened P Kt4- Preparing the counter
34. K t x B R Kt6ch. measure 42 . . ., K t x P ; 43
K x K t , Kt K 3ch.; 44 K K
Missing his best chance, 3, P B5CI1.; but White pre
which was R x K t , for any vents the manoeuvre by
io 8 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

threatening to exchange off the Fighting for a win, but now


rooks by R R8ch. Neverthe the pawns begin to fall.
less, the best reply was 42 Kt
K2. 60. R x BP
61. K K4 R B8
42. R R7 Kt B2 62. R R7ch. K B3
43. RxP Kt(4) - K 3 63. R R6ch. K Q2
44. P R5 K Q2 64. R R7ch. K K3
65. R R6ch. K K2
Still not Kt x P ; 45 K x Kt, 66. P R4 Kt Q2
Kt K3ch.; 46 K K3, P 67. R R6
Bsch.; 47 K K4, P x K t ; 48
R R8ch. After R R5, to prevent Kt
B4CI1. and also the loss of the
45 - P R6 Kt x P KP, Black can play K K3.
46. KxKt Kt K3ch.
K K3 P Bsch. 67. R K8ch.
47 -
48. K B2 PxKtch. 68. K -Q 4 Kt x P
49. KxP R K R i 69. P R 5 Kt x P
50. R Q5ch. K K2 70. R R7ch. K -Q 3
7 i- P R6 R QR8
Not K B3 ; 51 R Q6ch. 72. P R7 Kt B3
Black's defence against White's 73 - R QKt7 Kt Q2
widely spread pawns has to be 74 - R Kt2
extremely exact. Fortunately
Bowing to the inevitable and
for him each one is isolated.
admitting that he cannot win.
Si- P -B 5 RxP Now, Black in turn tries to win,
52 . P B6 Kt B i but his hope is a forlorn one for
53- R B5 K -Q i it must depend on a White
54 - K xP R Kt3ch. blunder.
55- K B3 K B2
P Kt4 Kt K3 74- RxP
56. Kt B4
57- R -Q 5 Kt B i 75 - R -Q 2
76. K B4 dis. ch. K B3
Better than K x P ; 58 R 77- R KR2 R Rsch.
Q6ch., K Kt4 ; 59 K K3, 78. K B3 R KKt5
and Blacks two pieces are com 79 - K -Q 2 R Kt6
pletely tied up, since he dare not 80. R R 5 K Kt4
risk 59 . . ., Kt B i ; 60 R x R, 81. K K2 K B5
Kt x R ; and the pawns cannot 82. R R4ch. K B6
be held. 83. K B2 R -Q 6
84. R KB4 K Q7
58. R B5 Kt K3 85. K Kt2 RQ4
59* R Q5 Kt B i 86. K B3 K -Q 6
60. R R5 Drawn.
CAPABLANCA NIMZ0 W1TCH 109

A. Nimzowitch (1886-1935), a Russian who adopted Denmark


as his native country, first came into prominence early in the
twentieth century. His style was so unusual that for a time he
was regarded as a Hypermodern, but in fact he was an original
thinker and iconoclast and became a great teacher. He was always
highly placed in tournaments, his best result being the 1st prize
at Carlsbad, 1929, but never obtained the match for the world
title to which he was generally regarded as entitled.

GAME 35 sequently suggested the brilliant


continuation 10 . . ., Q K t3 ;
CAPABLAN CANIMZOWITCH 11 Q x R , Q B 7; 12 Q x K t ,
O O ; and Black must recover
Kissingen tournament, 1928. his rook with a strong game.
9. P KKt3 P QR3
N im zo - I n d ia n D e f e n c e
Beginning an unexpected
1. P Q4 Kt KB3 manoeuvre, as a result of which
2. P QB4 P k 3 Whites bishop on the long diag
3. Kt QB3 B Kts onal will bite on thin air.
4. Q B2 P Q4
10. B Kt2 R R2
5- B -K t5 11. O O R Q2
A move proved inferior for 12. Q B i O O
the first time in this game. 13. Q R6 B x Kt
Blacks play, holding the gambit
pawn, leads to a great battle. The alternative answer to the
threat of Kt K4 fails by 13...,
5- PxP K R i ; 14 Kt K4, B K2 ;
6. Kt B3 P Kt4 15 K t(3 )-K t5, P x K t ; 16
7. P QR4 P B3 Kt B6, B x K t ; 17 B K4.
8. B x K t The text move frees the White
Not P K3 because he wants knight from the defence of his
QP, but it remains without
to take advantage of Black's
weakness on the long diagonal. much future even so.

8. PxB 14. PxB K R i


15. Kt Q2 P KB4
I f Q x B ; 9 P x P , P x P ; 10 16. KR K ti
Q K4, with a position suffi
cient to deter Black from trying If now 16 P K4, P K 4; and
the line, though Alekhine sub the White centre goes to pieces
no BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

25 B Kt2 (K R i, R Kt5),
after 17 K P x P , R Q 3 ; 18
Kt Q4 ; 23 Q K5ch, (Q B3,
Q K3, P x P ; 19 P x P , R x
R(3) Kt3), P B3; 27 Q
P ; 20 Kt B3, R Q6. Now
R5, Kt B5 ; winning.
White threatens 17 Kt x P, P x
K t ; 18 R x Kt, making Blacks 23. KtxB
extra pawn valueless. 24. Kt x Kt R Kt3ch.
25. Kt Kt3
16. P K4
The climax of Blacks play,
Now if 17 K t x P , P x P ; 18
for White must now lose the
P x P , R x P ; 19 Kt K5, R
exchange. If 25 K R i (K
Q3; 20 Q B i, Q - B 3 ; 21
Bi, B x K t ; 26 Q x B , Q R
Q b 3, r - k 3.
6ch.), Q Q4 (not R Kt5 ; 26
17. Kt B3 R Q3 Kt B6); 26 P B3, R K i ;
18. Q -K 3 threatening 27 . . . , R x K t ; 28
P x R , B x P ; winning easily.
He must try and hold what
centre he has, for if 18 Q R5, 25. BxR
P x P ; 19 Kt Kts, P R3; 26. R xB P KB4
20 KtxPch., R x K t ; 21 Q x
Threatening R Kt5 followed
R, P x P ; and the Black pawns
b yP B5.
will win.
27. P B3 Q KKt2
18. P K5
19. Kt Q2 Kt Q2 But now Black begins to go
20. P Kt4 wrong, curiously enough in the
same way as Mieses did against
A fighting reply. A less ag
Capablanca in Game 28, by not
gressive line would lead to slow
forcing exchanges after obtain
suffocation. Now the game be
ing a material advantage. Bet
comes very critical.
ter was 27 .. . , Q Q3.
20. Kt B3
21. PxBP BxP 28. K B2 Q B3
29. PxP BP x P
The natural move and good
enough, but more decisive was A further error, for though
21 . . ., Kt Q4; 22 Q R3 the pawns look strong, White
(QxP, KtxP), Kt B5 ; 23 has now a passed pawn which
Q K3, Q K t4 ; 24 Q x P enables him to fight back with
(forced), B x P ; winning. magnificent virtuosity.
[Diagram 45]
22. Q B4 Q Q2
23. BxP 30. R Q i K K ti
3 1. P Q5 Q xP
The only way to get freedom
in the centre, for if 23 Kt x KP, A final misjudgment; Q Q3
B x K t ; 24 B x B, R K tich .; was essential. The full subtlety
CAPABLANCA NIMZOWITCH III
(BLACK) [ N1MZCWITCH Q -Q 4 ); 36 P - K 4 . Q - K t
3 ch.
35- Q Q1
Threatening R x R and still
anticipating a won game. Other
lines lead only to a probable
draw ; for example, 35 . . . , Q x
R ; 3 6 K t x Q , R x Q ; 37 P
Q8-Qch., R B i; 38 Q B7,
R x K t ; 39 Q x P , or 35 . . .,
P B 8 = Q ; 36 Qx Q , Q x K t ;
37 P Q8=Q, R x Q ; 38 R x
R(8)ch. White uses his passed
(WHITE) CAPABLANCA
pawn with magnificent effect,
so that Blacks move is the
Position before White's 30th move. most reasonable one.
( D ia g r a m 45)
36. Q K5 RxKt
Of course not 36 . . ., P B8
of Whites recovery has still to = Q ; 37 RxRch., P x R ; 38
appear. Q Kt7Mate. The text appears
32. P Q6 Q B3 finally to break Whites attack,
but there is more to it.
33. P Q7 P B6
34. K t x P P B7 37- Q K8ch.
Of course not Q x K t ; 35 The point. Of course 37 Q x R
QxQ, R x Q ; 36 P - Q 8 = would lose. Now if 37 . . . , K
Qch., nor R Kt4 ; 35 R Q5, Kt2; 38 RxRch., P x R ; 39
R x K t ; 36 R x R, Q Kt3ch.; Qx Q , P B 8 = Q ; 40 Q K
37 K Kt2, R x R ; 38 Q x R . 7ch., K R3 ; 41 P Q8=Q,
and White actually wins, so
35- R Q6 Black must submit to the draw
by perpetual check.
A big surprise. The tame 35
R QBi, would lose by 35 . . ., 37- R B i
R Kt4 (not Q Kt3ch.; 36 38. RxRch. Drawn.
112 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

M. Euwe (b. 1901), the Dutch master, won the world cham
pionship from Alekhine in 1935, only to lose it again two years later.
A player of deep and accurate positional sense, he has persistently
won prizes in master tournaments, though often just failing to win
the 1st prize. One of his best results was his 1st prize at London,
1946. (Pronunciation : Erver.)

GAME 36 A double-edged move. He


permanently prevents P K4
EUWEBOGOLYUBOV but has to allow some weaken
ing of his position on the K side.
8th match game, 1928. The more orthodox play would
be to operate on the Q side by
P il l s b u r y A t t a c k P B5 and P QKt4 Kt5.
12. QKt x Kt
i-
P Q4 P Q4 13. P x K t R R3
2. P QB4 P k 3 14. P KKt3
3. Kt QB3 Kt KB3
4. B K t5 QKt Q2 To prevent Q R5. Were he
5. P K 3 P b 3 to permit Q R5 and then play
6. P -Q R 3 P R3, Black could at once
continue with P KKt4 Kt5.
Preventing the Cambridge
Springs Defence. 14. B Q2
15. P B3 Kt x P
6. B K2
7. Kt B3 Kt K5 A bold sacrifice designed to
8. B x B Q xB take advantage of the weakness
9. Q B2 P KB4 White has permitted. But prob
ably a quieter line like Kt
A solid variation in which he Kt4 would in the end have
will labour under the permanent proved more effective.
disadvantages of weak Black
squares and a confined bishop. 16. PxKt Q Kt4
10. B K2 0 O 17. K Kt2
ix. O O R B3 If K B2, then R R7CI1.;
P K4 is impossible because 18 K K i, Q x K P ; 19 P B4,
of the loss of the QP, and if first QxPch.
11 . . ., K t x K t ; then 12 Q x
Kt, again prevents P K4. 17. R K t3
18. P KKt4 Q x P
12. Kt K5 19. P B4 P x KtP
EUWE BOGOLYUBOV M3
To prevent 20 P Kt5 and 21 P ; 31 RP x P, P x P ; 32 P x
B -R 5 . P, Q R2), Q R2 ; 31 K t
R4, P K t4 ; 32 K t B3, and
20. Q0 3 Q Kt3 White holds the Q side.
21. P Kt4
Preparing for 22 R R i with 30. P Kt4
the threat of 23 R x P, K x R ; 31. K t K2 Q R2
24 R Rich., K K ti; 25 Q 32. Kt Kt3
xR. White is now beginning
He cannot prevent Blacks
to recover the initiative. queen coming back into the
21. R K B i game, for if KR QBi, Q x R P ;
22. P QB5 Q Qi threatening Q Q7.
23. Q K t3 P KR4
24. R R i R R3 32. QxBP
25. QR K B i P QKt3 33. P B5

Black is entirely without pros If Kt x P, B x K t ; 34 R x


pects unless he can open some B, Q K 6; 35 R x R , Q B
more lines. 6ch.; with a draw by perpetual
check. If 35 Q xP , R x R ; 36
26. Q R4 6 R i Q x R, Q x B ; wins.
27. B Q3 P R4
28. Q Kt5 B K i 33- P R5
I f R P x P ; 29RXP, R x R ; (BLACK) BO G O LYU BO V
30 Q x R , R B i (against 31
B R7CI1.) ; 31 RP x P, with a
great advantage.
29. R R i i
Blacks manuvre has suc
ceeded in making White halt
his initiative. If 29 K t R4,
R P x P ; 30 K t x P , Q x P ;
with good chances.
29. Q K ti
30. K t P x P
This fails to keep Black con (W HITE) EU W E

tained. It was based on the line Position before White's 34th move.
30..., P x RP ; 31QR Q Kti,
(D ia g r a m 46)
Q R2 ; 32 Kt R4 (not R
Kt6, P QR5), and Black can 34. R x P
not get out. Better was 30 K R
QKti (not QR QKti, RP X A most critical position, with
114 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

both players on the attack. If R x P , P Q5 dis. ch.; wins.


White here tries to continue his Probably best is simply 34
attack at once with P B6, Kt K2, P Q5; 35 Kt
Black plays P R6ch.; 35 K B4, Q B6 ; 36 P B6, Q
B i (not K R2, Q KB7Mate), Q7ch.; 37 K B i, R B2 ; 38
R(3) x Pch .; 36 P x R, R x Q x K t P , P B4. The text,
P ch .; 37 K K2 (K K i , Q which looks strong, has one
B6ch.; 38 K K2, Q K t7ch.; small flaw.
39 K K3 ?, R B6 Mate), 34. R xR
Q KB7ch.; 38 K Qi, Q x K t ; 35- P - B 6
and White will have difficulty in
saving the game. Alternatively If Q x R , Q K6 ; 36 Q x P ,
in this variation, if White tries Q x B ; 37 P B6, and Black
35 R x P, then P x Rch.; 36 K must take a perpetual check,
R i, R B2 ; 37 P x P , Q or Q x KP is dangerous.
K B7; 38 Kt K2 (R K K ti, 35. R R7ch.
P - R 7 ; 39 R Kt2, Q K8
ch.;wins), Q Kt7ch.; 39Q x Q, Resolving the problem by
P x Qch.; 40 K x P, R x P ch .; force.
wins. Nor is 34 Q x K tP any
36. K xR Q KB7ch.
better, for then P x K t ; 35
Drawn.
R x R, Q KB7CI1.; 36 K R i,
P Kt7ch.; 37 Q x P, Q x Qch.; Not 37 K R i, Q B6ch.;
38 K x Q , P x R ; 39 R R i, 38 K K ti, Q x K tch.; 39 K
P R 4 ; 40 P B6, P B4 ; 41 B i, Q x B c h . ; 40 K K i, Q
P R6, P B5; 42 B Kt6 R2 ; wins. A very keen-edged
(P R7, B B3), B B3 ; 43 battle.

M. Vidmar (b. 1885), of Yugoslav nationality, came into promi


nence early in the twentieth century and was for thirty years a
consistent prizewinner in master tournaments, though seldom
winning a 1st prize. IDs victory at Bad Sliac, 1932, was one of his
best results.

GAME 37 Q u e en s P aw n G am e

VIDMAREUWE 1. P Q4 Kt KB3
2. Kt KB3 P KKt3
Carlsbad tournament, 1929. 3* B Kt5
VIDMAR EU WE 115
An unorthodox development 15. Kt K4 Kt K2
of the bishop which almost in
evitably leads to giving up the P Q4 would allow White to
bishop for the knight. establish himself strongly on his
K5.
3. B Kta
16. Q R3 Kt B4
4 - QKt Q2 P B4
17. R Q2 Q K2
5. p- k3
18. Kt Kt3 KtxKt
If P K4, Black will control 19. BPxKt KR B i
the long diagonal. 20. P KKt4 R B2
21. P B5 KPxP
5. P Kt3
22. PxP P KKt4
6. B -Q 3 B Kt2
23. R K i Q B3
7- 0 0 P k r 3
8. B KB4 P -Q 3 The immediate disruption of
9- P b 3 Kt R4 his K side pawns has been
10. Q Kt3 averted, and he threatens P
Kt5, winning the knight.
White allows a certain
amount of disruption in his 24. P R3 QR QBi
pawn position to obtain open 25- R (Q )-Q i
lines for his pieces. The safe 10
B Kt3, K t x B ; n RPx Of course if 25 Q x RP, B x
Kt. White is now on the de
Kt, offered fewer possibilities.
fensive and Black's superior de
10. KtxB velopment begins to tell. Some
11. PxKt 0 0 what better was R(Q) K2, and
if R B8 ; 26 R K8ch., R x
If P x P ; 12 K t x P , and
R ; 27 R x R.
Black can only give White an
isolated pawn at the cost of his 25. R B5
valuable KB. White can 26. P Q5
not answer the text move with
He can no longer stand the
12 B x P, because of P B5, fol
lowed by P Q4. threat of B x K t .
26. P QR4
12. QR Qi Kt B3
13. B K ti It was better to play for
Now BxP would be equality with Q x KtP ; for
answered by Kt R4. then 27 Q xR P , B R i ( B x P ;
28 R x B , R B8 ; 29 B Q3,
13. PxP RxRch. ; 3 o K tx R , Q B8;3i
14. PxP P K3 Q K7, B B6; 32 K Bi,
Black cannot have the threat Q Bsch. ; with nothing more
of B x P hanging over him in than perpetual check) ; 28 Q
definitely, but now his QP is Q7 (not B Q3, R(5) B2 ; 29
weak. Q R4, B xP) , R B 8 ; 29
ii6 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

R x R (not R K8ch., B Bi), tion. An apparently inescapable


R x R ; 30 Q K8ch. (B Q3, mate on the move is threatened,
R x R c h . ; 31 K t x R , Q B8 ; but White has seen further and
32 Q K8ch., B B i ; 33 Q x now brings his own still more
B, QxKtch.), K R2; 31 P beautiful combination into
B6 dis. ch., Q x B ; 32 P x B , effect.
R x R c h . ; 33 K t x R , K x P ;
and a draw is almost certain. 34. R K8ch. B B i
Clearly not K R2 ; 35 Q
27. Kt Q2 Q Q5ch. Q3ch.
28. K R i QxQP
35. R x Bch. KxR
Better was simply R(5) B2 ;
29 Kt K4, Q x KtP ; 30 Q x Of course if K Kt2 ; 36 R x
QP, but Black sees mating pos Pch.
sibilities by means of a com 36. Kt Bsdis. ch. K K ti
binative assault on the White 37. Q B8ch. Resigns.
king.
It is mate next move. A
(b l a c k ) e u w e
galling resignation when he is
still left threatening his own
mate on the move. For this
exquisite piece of play Vidmar
was awarded a brilliancy prize.

GAME 38

ALEKHINE-BOGOLYUBOV

n th match game,
(w h it e ) v id m a r
Weisbaden, 1929.
Position before White's 29th move.
P il l s b u r y A t t a c k
( D ia g r a m 47)
1. P Q4 Kt KB3
29. B K4 RxB 2. P QB4 P B3
30. K t x R QxBP 3. Kt QB3 P K 3
31. Kt x QP B x Pch. 4. Kt B3 P Q4
32. K x B R B7ch. 5. B K t5 QKt Q2
33. K R i Q B5 6. P K4
The key to Blacks combina- A bold method of avoiding
ALEKHINE BOGOLYBOV

the Cambridge Springs De (BLACK ) BOG O LY BO V

fence.
6. PxKP
7. Kt x P Q Kt3
Q R4ch., would avoid the
break-up of his K side pawns.
8. KtxKtch. P x K t
9. B B i P K4
10. B Q3
Sacrificing a pawn to secure
open lines for his bishops and
rooks.
10. PxP (W HITE) AL E K H IN E

11. 0 O B K2 Position before Whites 18th move.


He has no time for P QB4, (D ia g r a m 48)
for then 12 R Kich., B K2 ;
13 Q K2, Q Qi (Q Q3 ; 14 He has now no option but to
B B4); 14 B R6 and the accept the offer. If Q B2 ; 20
threat of B Kt7 followed by B B KB4, Q B i ; 21 R x Pch.
xBP ties up Black com
pletely. 20. R K5
12. R K i K t B i Better than 20 R K ti, Q x
13. Kt R4 B K 3 P ; 21 RxKtPch., K B i ; 22
14. Kt B5 B Kt5 B QR6, P x R ; 23 R Kt5
Hoping to castle on the Q dis. ch., K Q i ; 24 R x Q,
side with a good game. B x R ; and Black has a good
game.
15. K t Kt7ch. K Q2
16. R K4 R K K ti 20. Kt Kt3
17. Kt R5 B K2
Not liking P B3 ; 21 R
[Diagram 48]
Kti, Q R4 > 22 R xPch., K
18. P QKt4 K i (K B i ; 23 K R x B , K t x
Black has now somewhat con R ; 24 R x B ) ; 23 K R x B ,
solidated his position, so White K t x R ; 24 B x P, Kt B i ; 25
gives up a second pawn to keep Q -K 2 .
the pot boiling. It is rare to get 21. R K ti Q R4
such a tense situation so early
in a Queens Pawn opening. I f Q x R ; 22 B x Q, Kt x R ;
23 Q x Pch., with advantage.
18. P KB4
19. P B5 QxKtP 22. R K2 P Kt3
i i 8 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

Of course not B x B P ; 23 There is nothing in 39 Kt


Kt B6ch. nor B x R P ; 23 K8ch., K Q2.
BxPch.
39. K Q2
23. PxP PxP
But here Black misses a
24. R(K) Kt2 QR K ti
chance of shutting in the White
25. B B i P B4
bishop and opening for his own
By careful play Black has use the diagonal which White
now practically consolidated his has been forced to weaken. P
position again and his extra Q6 was much better and would
pawns begin to look formidable, prevent Whites next move.
so White plans to open the QKt
40. B Q3 B Q i
file thus deriving what advant
age he can from his superior de And here Kt R5, defending
velopment. the pawn and threatening a
dangerous attack by Kt x Pch.,
26. P QR4 K B2
was more promising.
27. R Kt5 Q R i
28. P R5 PxP 41. Q R i Kt K2
29. B Q2 R xR
To prevent K t x P followed
If P R 5 ; 3 R R5. Q by B K4, but Kt R5 was
B 3 ; 3 1 B QKt5, with a strong still a better move.
attack against the exposed king.
Black rightly considers that a 42. KtxP
lead of two pawns is sufficient. The first pawn is recovered
R xR R K ti elegantly. Black cannot answer
30 - with Kt x Kt, for then 43 B
Si- R xP Q Kt2
B -Q 2 K4, winning.
32 . Q^ 4
33 - Q R2 Q Kt6 42. Q Kt6
34- R R7ch. K -Q 3 43. Q -K B i Kt Q4
Not K B i ; 35 B R6ch., 44. R R i
K Q i ; 36 B Rsch., K K i ; If 44 B QB4, Q Kt8 ] and
37 Q xQ . R x Q ; 38 R R8ch. White cannot continue with 45
35* Q R6ch. R Kt3 B x K t , in the hope of B x B ;
36. Q R5 R Kt2 46 R Q6ch., because of 45 . . . ,
37. R R6ch. B B3 Q x Q c h . ; 46 K x Q , B Kt
38. Kt Kt7 Q -Q 4 4ch.

Another stage of consolida 44. B QKt4


tion is achieved. The king is 45. BxBch. QxB
covered and a White bishop 46. Q K i
tied down by a mating threat.
Black has succeeded in sim
39. P B3 plifying the position and is still
ALEKHN BOGOLYUBOV II9
a pawn ahead, so White now 51. R Bich. K t B6
switches his attack suddenly to
the other flank. If K K t3 ; 52 B Rsch., K
x B ; 53 Q x R , threatening
46. Q B3 both R R i Mate and Q x Kt.
47. Q Kt3 Q -K K t3
48. Q R3 K B3 52. B x K t R Kt8
Not P x B ; 53 RxPch., K
(b l a c k ) BOG OLYU BO V
Kt3 ; 54 R K t3ch., preventing
Q Kt8ch. and winning the
rook.
53- Q R8ch.
Not yet B Q2, for then
R x Rch.; 54 B x R, Q Kt8.
53- K -Q 2
54* Q R+ch. KB i
55. B Q2 RxR ch.
56. B x R Q Q3
If Q Kt8 ; 57 Q K8ch.,
B Qi (K Kt2 ; 58 Q K
4ch.); 58 Q B6ch. The game
(WHITE) AL EK H IN E
is now an inevitable draw. No
world championship match ever
Position before White's 49th move.
produced a finer struggle than
(D ia g r a m 49) this.

49. KtxPch. 57. Q K8ch. K Kt2


58. Q Ktsch. K R2
And with a brilliant stroke 59. Q R^ch. K Kt2
he recovers the second pawn. 60. Q Ktsch. B K t3
The combination is delightfully 61. G Q3 Q K t3
contrived. 62. Q xQ BPxQ
63. K B2 K B3
49. P x Kt
50. Q B8ch. B B2 Drawn.
120 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

R. Spielmann (1883-1942) was another of the young masters


who began to make a name for themselves early in the twentieth
century. In style he was a romantic and reverted to the gambits of
an earlier age. His greatest success was winning the big tourna
ment at Semmering, 1926. He was an Austrian.
G. Stoltz (b. 1910) is a young Swedish player who first
appeared about 1930 and was at once successful in international
competitions.

GAME 39 H B Q3; 15 Q B3,


threatening P K4 K5 with
SPIELMANNSTOLTZ a fine game.
15. B x B P QKt4
Bled tournament, 1931. 16. B x K t
Q u e e n s G a m b it The point. Black must sub
mit to the disruption of his K
I. P Q4 P -Q 4 side pawns.
2. Kt KB3 Kt KB3
3- P B4 PxP 16. Q xB
4- P k 3 P K3 17. Q B3
5- B x P P B4
6. 0 0 Kt B3 If 17 Q x Q , P x Q ; 18 B x P ,
R K K t i ; 19 B K5, B Kt
7- Kt B3 P -Q R 3 2; 20R B2,R Q Bi; White,
8. Q - K 2 B K2
though a pawn up, would have
A move generally deferred in diminished winning chances be
order to avoid losing a move cause of the bishops of opposite
with the bishop. colours.
9. P x P BxP 17- Q Q4
10. P QR3 Q B2 18. P K4 Q b 3
11. P QKt4 B Q3 19. B x P R K K ti
12. B Kt2 Kt K4 20. B K5 B Kt2
13. Kt x Kt 21. KR K i
Initiating a plan to reinforce
White has won the first
the advantage of a move which
round. He is a pawn ahead and
he has already gained.
Blacks king is fixed in the
13. B x Kt centre. Black, however, has
14. P B4 B x Kt some compensation in his pres
SPIELMANN STOLTZ 121
sure on the long diagonal and Correct was B B4. The
his control of the QB file. text move, which looks strong,
leaves the KP undefended and
21. R QBi after Black's reply there is no
22. QR Qi more than a draw in the game.
Not 22 QR B i, Q x R ; 23 Of course Black will not fall in
RxQ, R x R c h . ; 24 K B2, to Q x B ; 32QxPMate.
R B7ch.; 25 E K3. R(i) 31. Q K2
X P ; with advantage. 32. Q B4 R Kt5
33- Q B2 R(5) Kt3
22. Q B7
23. P Kt3 R Kt3 Forced by the threat of B
B6.
To prevent an attack by B
B6, which in conjunction with 34- Q Q4 R B5
the doubling of the rooks on the 35. Q B2 B R6
Q file would threaten mate on
his Qi. (b l a c k ) STOLTZ

24. P B5 PxP
25. Q x P Q B3
BB6 is again threatened.
The inability of Whites K P to
advance owing to his weakness
on the long diagonal is now a
powerful counter-weight to
the extra pawn.
26. Q B4 Q K3
27. R - Q 6 Q K t5
28. Q B5
(WHITE) SPIELMANN
White is prepared to allow
the exchange of queens only if Position before White's 36th move.
he can get his KP on to the B ( D i a g r a m 50)
file. If Black replies Q x Q ; 29
P x Q , R x R ; 3oBxRdis.ch., 36. Q B4
K Q i ; 31 B B5, and the
threat of R K7 is difficult to Now if 36 B B6, R x B ; 37
meet. Q x R , B x R ; 38 QxQch.,
K x Q ; 39 K x B , R x P ;
28. R QB3 draws easily. White is not pre
29. R Q2 B B i pared to forgo his attempts to
30. Q B2 Q Kt4 win and evolves a plan based
31. R K B i upon drawing the bishop from its
122 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

present diagonal by sacrificing of 45 Q K 5ch., K Q2 (K


the rook. B i ; 46 Q R8ch.) ; 46 Q B
5ch., K B 3 ; 47 Q B6ch., and
36. BxR Black can only avoid perpetual
37. B B6 B R6 check by withdrawing his rook;
For if now Q x B ( R x B ; for example, 47 . . ., K Kt2 ;
38 Q Kt8ch., is worse); 48 QxPch., K K t3 ; 49 Q
38 Q Kt8ch., K K2 (R B6ch R B3 ; 50 Q R i.
B i is no longer possible) ;
39 Q Q8ch K - K 3 ; 40 Q 45- Q B3 R(3) Q7
Q6 Mate. But Black's subtle 46. Q B i K K ti
counter is to allow White to If R x P , he no longer
carry through the plan he has threatens mate in one and
played for. White can play 47 Q B6, K
38. R Q8ch. K ti ; 48 Q Q8ch., K Kt2 ;
49 Q Ktsch., drawing.
Not B x Q, R B8ch.; 39
K B2, R B8ch.; 40 K 47. P KR4 P KR4
K3, R x Q ; 41 P x R , K x B ; 48. P K5 R K7
winning a piece. 49. P K6 PxP
38. K xR A last trap. If R x P ; 50 Q
Q x R ; 39 B x Q , leads to Qi, R (3 )-K 7 ; 51 Q Q8ch
identical positions. K R2 ; 52 Q Q3ch., K R3 ;
53 Q Q6ch., R K3 ; 54 Q
39. BxQch. K x B Qi, with perpetual check.
40. Q R4ch. R B3
41. Q x B 50. K R i

And now at the end of it all All Whites other moves are
Black has proved the more cun exhausted, for if Q; Qi, then
ning and has the superior posi R K t7ch.; 51 K R i, R
tion. White, however, is still R7ch.; 52 K K ti, R(B)
full of fight. K t7ch.; 53 K B i, R R8ch.

41. R QB8ch. 50. R B7


42. K Kt2 R QB7ch. 51. Q K K ti
43. K K ti R Q3
Again forced because of the
By means of this mating same continuation.
threat Black will be able to
double rooks on the 7th rank. 51. K B2
Resigns.
44- Q R5 K B i
White is in zugswang. An
Not R (3) Q7 at once because exciting game.
COLLE KASHDAN I 23

E. Colie (1897-1932) was a brilliant Belgian master, whose name


is particularly associated with the form of the Queens Pawn Game
named after him. He won the International tournaments at Meran,
1926, and Scarborough, 1927, and 1930.
I. Kashdan (b. 1911) is a young American master who scored
an exceptional series of successes in the early 1930s, notably the
1st prizes at Gyor, 1930, and Stockholm, 1930.

GAME 40 13. B KKt5 K t K5


14. QR K i B KB4
COLLE-KASHDAN 15. B K 3

Bled tournament, 1931. Whites QKt and QB are un


usually ineffective as a result of
Co lle S y ste m his 10th move.

15- B Kt3
I. P 0 4 P -Q 4 16. K t R4
2. Kt KB3 Kt KB3
3. P - K 3 P B4 (b l a c k ) k a s h d a n
4- P b 3 P k 3
5- QKt 6 2 K t B3
6. B - Q 3 B -Q 3
7- 0 0 0 0
8. P x P BxP
9- P K4
The key move of Colles 01
system of attack.
9- Q -B 2
10. P x P
Though this gives Black an
isolated pawn, it is not con
sistent with the scheme of at (WHITE) COLLE
tack, which requires the use of
the square K4. Better was 10 Position before Black's 16th move.
Q K2 followed by R K i. ( D ia g r a m 51)

10. PxP 16. K txK BP


11. Kt Kt3 B Kt3
12. Q B2 R K i Black tries to force the issue
124 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

brilliantly before White can He wants to renew his at


recover. The immediate threat tempts to recover the piece by
is K t x B , and if White tries to B R4, P KKt4 and B Kt3,
counter this threat by removing but if B R4 at once, 25 Q Q2
Blacks QB, Black wins either would clear the air for White.
by 17 K B x B , K t K K ts; 18
B x BPch. (B x RPch., K R i ; 25. K t Q4
19 Kt B3, K tx B ), K R i ;
19 K t B3, R x B ; or by 17 Kt To free the queen from the
XB, Kt K K ts ; 18 P Kt3, defence of the bishop.
K t x B . An attempt to avoid ' 25. B R4
the mating threats in the above
variations by 17 QB x B equally
fails after 17 . . ., Q x B ; 18 (b l a c k ) k a s h d a n

B x B, K t Q6 dis. ch.; 19 K
Ri, K t x R ; or 18 Q x K t ,
Q x Q c h . ; 19 K XQ , B x B ; 20
RxRch., R x R ; 21 R K i,
R x R ; 22 K x R , B Kt8.
White must therefore take the
knight and if 17 Q x Kt (K x Kt,
Q B sch .; wins), Q B x B ; 18
B x B , Q x B ; 19 RxRch.,
R x R ; with advantage. The
text reply is the only one by
which he can hold the piece, but
it involves his king in consider-
able dangers.
(w h it e ) c o l l e

*7 - BxKt BxBch. Position before White's 26th move.


18. KxB Q K t3ch.
( D ia g r a m 52)
19. K K t3 R K6ch.
20. R xR QxRch.
21. R B3 Q Kt4ch. 26. Q B2
22. K R3 K t K4
The situation is extremely
23- R K t3 Q -R 3 difficult and White is very
24. B B5 nearly in zugswang. For in
Not B x B , R P x B ; and stance, if 26 B Kt4, B x B ch .;
Black threatens to recover the 27 R x B , K t x R ; 28 K x K t ,
piece by P KKt4. White has R K sch .; coming out the
at last succeeded in holding his exchange ahead, and if 26
piece, but his position is far K t(Q )-B 3, B x K t ; 27 P x B ,
from happy. P KKtij.. The text move, how
ever, does nothing to ease his
24. R K i game, and the only line that
COLLE KASHDAN 125
promised anything was 26 B x Q K t4ch.; 34 K B2, Q
Pch., restoring material equa R5ch.; 35 P Kt3, QxRPch. ;
lity. Black cannot reply 26 .. 36 K K3, K t Kt7ch. Nor
Q x B ; 27 QxQch., K x Q ; does protection of his KB4 help
28 Kt(R) B5, and White has White, for if 30 K t K2, then
the advantage ; he must there B x K t ; 3 i R x B ( Q x B , K t
fore play 26 . . K B i. Now Q6), K t Q6 ; 32 Q B3, R x
not 27 B B5, P K K t4 ; nor R ; 33 Q x R , K t Bsch. He
27 Kt(Q) B5, Q -B 5 therefore plays to remove the
(threatening B Ktsch.); but double threat to his K3 when
27 Q B5, with good chances. the Black knight moves, even
He never has the same oppor though it costs him the ex
tunity again. change.

26. P KKt4 30. R K i B Ktsch.


27. BxPch. Another fine move which
forces the exchange of queens,
The piece must be returned without which the game would
as K B i cannot be prevented. still be difficult to win.
White therefore decides to make
sure that he gets his pawn back 3i- BxB Kt Q6
in exchange for it. 32. Q xP K t Bsch.
33- K K t3 QxQch.
27. K B i 34- KxQ KtxPch.
35- K K t5 R xR
Taking the sting out of
Whites last move, and much The end of c1 fine combi-
better than the immediate re nation, and virtually the end of
covery of the piece either by a fine combinative game.
K x B ; 28 Q B5ch., B Kt3 ;
29 QxKt P, or by Q x B ; 28 36. P KR4 Kt K6
RxPch. Now Whites reply is 37- B -B 3 K t B5
forced by the threat of P 38. Kt B5 R Kt8ch.
Ktsch. 39- K B4 R KB8
40. Kt K3 R B7
28. B B5 PxKt 4i- Kt Qi R R7
29. R K3 R K2 42. P R5 K txP
43- K t K3 K t Q6ch.
A beautiful move, to prevent 44- K K t3 R x Q R P
White capturing the rook with 45- K t x P R Kt7
a check, and so threatening 46. P R6 Kt K4
Kt Kt3. For example if in 47- K B4 Kt Kt3ch.
reply 30 Q K i, then K t Kt3 ; 48. K K4 P K t3
31 RxR, Kt B sch .; 32 K x 49- Kt B6 K t K2
P, B K7dis. ch.; 33 K Kt3, Resigns.
126 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

GAME 41 He is already in trouble, for


he is faced with a series of White
STOLTZ-COLLE moves such as P R5, P x P ,
B KR6, B x B and Q R6ch.
Bled tournament, 1931. But the text move only creates
a new target for White to
A l e k h in e D e f e n c e attack.
.12. O O O P K3
1. P K4 K t KB3
2. P K 5 Kt Q4 A sad necessity, but he is
3. P QB4 K t Kt3 threatened with 13 Q B2, K
4. P, B5 Kt Q4 R i (against Q x P) ; 14 P K6.
5. K t QB3 KtxK t
6. QPxKt K t B3 13. B K K ts P B3
The normal lines against the Now his K K tP will be
Lasker treatment of the gravely weakened, but if Q
Alekhine Defence are 6 . . . , P K i ; 14 B B6, and Black can
Q3or6.. .,P K3. Blacksirreg- hardly play B x B ; 15 P x B ,
ular attempt to use the advanced K R2 (against Q*R 6); 16
White pawn as a target recoils B Q3, threatening Q Kt5
horribly upon him. and Q xR Pch.
7. K t B3 P KKt3 14. K P x P BxP
8. B QB4 B Kt2 15- Q B2 Q K i
B y his previous move Black The only defence against the
has virtually committed him two threats of Q x Pch. and B x
self to P Q3 rather than P Pch.
K3, yet after Whites reply he
will be unable to play P Q3 16. B Q3 K Kt2
without losing a pawn. Should 17. P KKt4 R P x P
he attempt to overcome this by 18. QR K ti
playing P Q3 at once, then 9 White prosecutes the attack
K t Kt5 is a very strong reply. vigorously. If now 18 . . ., P x
In fact, his 6th and 7th moves K t ; 19 B x P , Q K2 (Qx B ;
already stand condemned. 20 BxBch.); 20 B R5, K
9. B-B4 O O R i (R R i ; 21 Q Kt6ch., or
xo. Q Q2 P Kt3 B x B c h . ; 21 P x B , K t K 4;
22 Q K 4 ); 21 Q Kt6, Kt
Now the only possible de K4 (Q Kt2 ; 22 B x B ) ; 22
velopment for the bishop, but Q R6ch., Q R 2 ; 23 Q x Rch.
Black is not allowed time to
playB Kt2. 18. BxBch.
19. K t x B K t K4
11. P KR4 P KR4 20. B K4 B R3
STOLTZ COLLE I2 7
(BLACK) COLLS
In his almost hopeless posi
tion Black must go all out or go
under, so having temporarily
stopped the K side attack, he
offers a sacrifice of the
exchange.
21. B x R
Whites attack has brought
him a gain of material, but he
would be better advised not to
take it, for it means abandoning
all pressure on Black. Better
was the further prosecution of
the attack by some such line as (WHITE) STOLTZ
21 P R5, P x P ; 22 P--B3,
RQKti ; 23 K B P x P , K t x Position before White's 25th move.
P; 2 4 R x K t , P x R ; 25 R (D ia g r a m 53)
R7ch., K B3 (K K ti ; 26
Q R2) ; 26 Q B2ch., and 25. P x P e .p .
mates next move. 26. R K i P B7
27. R x K t
21. K t Q6ch.
22. K K ti Q xB The first point of the combi
nation as White saw it. If now
Not R x P ; 23 Q R4, K t x
QxRch. ; 28 R K l dis. ch.,
BP ; 24 Q Q4h. wins.
23. P QB4 K t K 4
27. K K ti
24. Q B3 R b 4
28. R K B i Q Kt7
[Diagram 53]
29- Q Q3
25. P B4 The second point of the com
He wants to play R K i, bination as White saw it. The
which at the moment is no threat against both rooks is met,
threat because R x Kt would be for if now R x R ; 30 QxPch.,
answered by QxRch., so he and mates.
evolves a problem-like ma 29. BxP
nuvre to induce Black to block
the diagonal himself. But un The real point of the combi
fortunately it is not quite sound nation, seen by Black, and a
and Black is given a strong beautiful one.
passed pawn. Better was the
30. Q x B R xR
slower line 25 R K i, P x P ;
26 KR K ti, P Q3 ; 27 KtX 31. Q83 QxRch.
Pch., K K t i ; 28 R x P . A splendid climax, leading to
128 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

32 QxQ , R Q8ch. The threat An object lesson in refusing


of 3 1 . . Q x R c h . ; could not to reconcile oneself to impend
be avoided, for if 31 K B2, ing resignation, however hope
then R x P . less the situation may ap
pear. A game is never lost until
[Resigns. it is won.

F. D. Yates (1884-1932) was many times British champion and


a frequent competitor in International tournaments. His style
displayed great tenacity and determination, and though he was
not sufficiently consistent to win the highest prizes, there were
few masters whom he did not beat in his time.

GAME 42 More in keeping with the


usual forms of the opening
EUWEYATES would be 9 P Q5, K t K2 ; 10
P KKt4, followed by 11 K t
Hastings tournament, 1932. K t3. Now Black has succeeded
in forcing P KB4 if he wishes,
K ing s I ndian D efence but he unwisely tries first to
force the White K K t in front of
the KKtP.
1. P Q4 K t KB3
2. P QB4 P KKt3 9. K t Kt3
3. K t QB3 B Kt2 10. P QKt3
4. P -K 4 P Q3
Giving Black a point of at
5. p - b 3
tack, but he has calculated that
The most combinative line it is immune for the time being
against the Kings Indian De at least.
fence, preparing O O O, fol
10. P -Q R 4
lowed by P KKt4 and P
KR4. If White had played the usual
P Q5, this would be correct,
5- 0 -0 but now his centre is completely
6. B K3 K t B3
7. K K t K2 P K4 destroyed. Whites reply
threatens B x Kt.
8. Q Q2 Kt Q2
9. oo o 11 P x P P R5
EUWE YATES

It is neck or nothing, so he (BLACK) YATES

sacrifices a piece for an attack


i i ..., P x P would be answered
by 12 QxQ , R x Q ; 13 R x
Rch., K t x R ; 14 B x K t , P x
B ; 15 Kt Q5, winning.

12. B x K t RPxP
13. B K3

Stronger was R P x P and


Black could hardly risk 13 . . .,
P x B ; but would have to try
1 3 . . . , B x P ; 14 B K3, Kt
R 4 ; 15 Q B2, with variations (WHITE) EUWE
similar to the actual game but
Position before White's 22nd move.
with White a QKtP to the good.
The loss of this pawn makes it (D ia g r a m 54)
self felt later.
22. B Q3
13. PxRP This likely looking move
14. K txP BxP gives Black a fighting chance.
15. K K t B3 B K 3 Better was Q R4, Kt x P ; 23
16. P B4 Kt R4 Q x R (not K t x R, Q x P ; 24
17. Q B2 B Kt2 P x Q , B R3ch. ; 25 R Q2,
18. Kt Q5 P -Q B 3 B x R c h . ; 26 K Qi, Kt Kt
19. B Kt6 Q K ti 7ch.; 27 K x B, Kt x Q ; with
20. K t B7 P Q4 good chances), Kt x B ; 24 Q x
Q, R x Q ; and White has re
A fighting continuation, for duced Blacks chances of com
he may as well be hung for a plicating almost to nothing.
sheep as a lamb. To be a major
instead of a minor piece down is 22. BxB
of small importance in such a 23. R x B Kt x P
position. White could safely 24. K t x R Q x Kt
reply 21 K t x R, Q x Pch.; 22 25. B Q4 R B i
K K ti, R x K t ; 23 B Q4, Playing for a rapid advance
but not 23 B xK t, R x B ; 24 of his three united passed
B Q3, Q K4. The Black pawns, the only line that offers
rook, however, cannot escape, any real hope.
and he prefers to dose the long
diagonal first. 26. R K i
Not P K6 because of B x
21. P K5 B B4 B ; 27 P xPch., K x P ; 28R x
130 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

B, Q R6ch. ; 29 K K ti, Q B3 ; 34 Q k 3 (not K t x P, R


B4 ; threatening K t R6ch. QKti), K t x R ; 35 B x B ,
K x B ; 36 Q x Kt, keeping two
26. P QB4
pieces, one to defend the pawns
27. B R i P QKt4
and one to attack on the other
28. R K2 P Kt5
flank. Now his Q side pawns
29. Q Kt3
will fall.
If 29 Q Qi, P K t6; but
34- R x Q R xR
unlikely as it seems the move
35- BxB K xB
selected allows Black to achieve
36. P x K t P Kt6
virtual equality, and R QKt3 R -Q i
37- K t B3
was better.
38. K Kt2 R Q6
29. KtxP 39- Kt R4 R xP
A brilliant knight manoeuvre. His only chance now lies on
If 30 P x Kt, P B5. the K side.
30. R x P P B5 40. K t Kt6 P Kt4
31. Q KR3 41. K txP P B4
42. Kt02 K B3
The only way to defend his KtxP P R4
rook is to counter-attack 43-
44- K B2 P B5
Blacks rook, but the move Kt Q4
45- P R5
leaves him open to a multiple 46. K -Q 2 R R6
fork. K K i P R6
47-
31. Kt Q6ch. 48. R K6ch K B2
32. K K ti K txP 49- R -K 5 K K t3
50. Kt K2
The culmination of his knight
manoeuvres. At first sight he All the White pieces have got
seems to recover a whole rook across to the defence just in
with a won ending, but White time and the game is a legiti
discovers an ingenious move to mate draw.
remain a minor piece ahead.
50. R R7
33. R -Q R 5 KtxQ 51. K B2 K B3
52. R B5 P Kts
Now it is Blacks turn to fail 53. R B4 P B6
to take full advantage of the 54. R xP P x Kt
position. He should play Q 55. R KR4 Drawn.
SULTAN KHAN ALEKHINE 131

M. Sultan Khan (b. 1905) came to Europe in 1929, and left


again four years later as suddenly as he had arrived. In that time
he had shown himself, for all his lack of book knowledge and
inability to read any textbook, one of the worlds great masters,
winning many prizes in tournaments, winning the British cham
pionship and defeating Tartakower in a match.

GAME 43 Countering Whites pressure


on his K4 and at the same time
SULTAN KHANALEKHINE preparing the advance of his
Q side pawns.
Folkestone team tournament, 11. R K i R Qi
1933- Preparing an action against
(Great Britain France)
the QP should White play
P K4.
Q ueen ' s P awn G ame
12. Q K ti P k r 3
1. Kt KB3 P - Q 4 13- P -Q R 3 P -Q R 4
2. P - Q 4 P QB4 14- B K B i Kt K2
3- P b 3 Kt QB3 15- P K3 B B3
4- P KKt3 Kt B3 16. B -Q 3 Kt Q2
5- B Kt2 P K3 17- B B3 p QKt4
6. 0 0 B Q3 18. B Kt2
7- QKt Q2 A better way of meeting the
White is playing the Grunfeld threat of P Kts, opening a file,
Defence with a move in hand was P QR4, P Kts ; 19 B
and the colours reversed ; as a Kt2. As played his QB4 is
result he gets less than he weakened.
should from the advantage of 18. P R5
the first move. 19. P QKt4 Kt QKt3
7. PxP 20. B B3 K t B5
8. P x P 0 0 21. R R2 P B4
9. P Kt3 22. Q R i
Initiating a long struggle for P K4 being now prevented,
control of the centre ; his plan he makes every effort to play
is to control his K5 and then if Kt K5.
possible follow with P K4.
22. Kt KKt3
9. B Q2 23. B B i Q B2
10. B Kt2 Q K ti 24. R B i QR B i
132 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

25. R(2) B2 Q K tl R4, threatening 41 R K ti, for


26. B KKt2 R B i if 40 . . ., B x P ; 41 R K ti,
27. Kt K i Kt R i R QKt2;42 Q Kt2, and wins.
28. R t x K t Now Black reassumes the initia
tive in this delicately balanced
He wants to play P B4 so game.
as to win the battle for his K5,
but can only do it by allowing 39. R R2
Black a passed QBP. 40. Q Qi Q K B i
41. R KB2 P x P
28. KtPxKt 42. R xP Q Kt2
29. P B4 K t B2 43. R B2
30. K t B3 B K2 Not P QR4, B Kt4.
Beginning a new counter 43- B Q3
action against his K4 by 44. R(i) R2
threatening P Kt4- And now if P QR4, then
31. Kt K5 Kt Q3 B xKKtP; 45PxB,QxPch.;
32. B B3 46 K Bi, Q x P ; 47 Q Q2
(Q K i , Q R6ch.; 48 K
After his efforts to establish K2,Q Q6Mate. Or47B Kt2,
his knight he does not want to R(2) KKt2), Q R6ch. ; 48
exchange it for Blacks KB, so K K2, R Kt6 ; 49 B Kt2,
there is no point in 32 Kt Kt6, P K6 ; 50 Q B2ch., K Kt
R KB2 ; 33 B B3, B B3 ; 1 ; threatening R Kt7ch.,
followed by 34 . . K R2. when the White rook moves.
Instead he prepares for the im
pending action on the K K t file. 44. Q Kt4
45- Q QBi R(2) KKt2
32. K R2 46. R KKt2
33. R KKt2 P Kt4
34. Q K ti Kt K5 Now the threat of P R4
35. Q B2 R K ti R5 by Black prevents a Q side
advance.
An inaccuracy which should
46. P R4
have cost him the initiative as 47. B K i P R5
well as a pawn. Better was [Diagram 55]
B Kt4.
48. K R i
36. BxKt BPxB
37. K txB RxKt If 48 P x P , Q x R c h . ; 49
38. QxP R B2 R x Q , R x R c h . ; 50 K B i,
39. R R i R Kt8ch.; 51 K K2, R(i)
Kt7ch.; 52 K Qi, B x RP ;
Missing his chance, as Blacks
threatening B Kt6, winning.
40th move now holds up the
pawns indefinitely. Correct was 48. Q Kts
39 Q B2, R R2 ; 40 P Q 49. R(R) KB2 P x P
SULTAN KHAN ALEKHINE 133
(b l a c k ) ALEKHINE 56. K R3 R -K 7
57- 0 Q1
The only move to save the
queen against the threat of R(8)
x B, followed by R x Pch.
57- R(8) x B
58. Q -R 4 RxPch.
59- K Kt2 R(6) K7ch.
60. K K t3 R Kt8ch.
61. K B4 R B7ch.
62. K -K 5 R K t3
Black has a potential win
with his passed pawns, but he
(WHITE) SULTAN KHAN will have difficulty in avoiding
Position before Whites 48th move. perpetual check. The struggle
(D ia g r a m 55)
between Blacks winning
chances and Whites drawing
chances is one of absorbing in
Missing the decisive line. terest and intensity.
Kashdan pointed out that the
correct move was 49 . . ., Q R 63. Q-Q7ch. K R3
6 ; threatening P x P , and if 50 64. Q Q8 P K6
P Kt4, R x P ; 51 R x R (Q Q R4CI1., was threatened.
Q2, QxPch. ; 52 R x Q , R 65. Q R8ch. K Kt4
Kt8 Mate), R x R ; 52 B B 3, 66. Q R3 R B4ch.
B xR P ; wins. Now Black will 67. K Q6 K B5
have great difficulty in winning. 68. Q Bich.
50. P x P BxKKtP White succeeds in getting rid
51. R x B of the dangerous Black KP, but
Not 51 R R2ch., B x R ; at the cost of his own QP.
52 RxBch., K Kt3 ; 53 68. K K5
R KKt2, K B4; 54 R x Q , 69. Q Ktich.
R x R ; and mate cannot be
avoided. Not Q Qi, P K4 dis. c h . ;
70 K K7, P x P.
51 Q xR
52 R R2ch. QxRch. 69. KxP
K x Q R Kt7ch. 70. Q Qich. K B6
53
54 K R3 R Kt8 An amazing conception. He
Winning the bishop by the could escape perpetual check
with 70 . . ., K K5 ; continu
threat of R R8 Mate.
ing as he does on the 76th move,
55. K R2 R(i) Kt7ch. but first he plans to allow a
134 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

temporary series of checks ch., K K ti ; 86 Q K4, K


merely in order to win Whites Kt2 ; 87 Q -K R 4 , P - Q 7 ;
RP. 88 Q K7ch., K K ti ; 89 Q
71. Q Bich. K Kt6 K8ch., K R2 ; 90 Q K7CI1.,
R Kt2.
72. Q Ktich. K x P
73. Q Rich. K Kt6 82. R Kt6
The key to the Black kings 83. Q B i P B6
outing ; he does not seek to win 84. P Kt5 P - 5
85. P Kt6 R Kt8
the K tP as well, for after 73 ..
K x P ; 74 Q Kt2ch., K R 4 ; 86. Q B2 R(8) Kt7
87. Q B i R Kt7
75 Q R3ch., K Kt3 ; 76 Q
Bsch., with an easy perpetual 88. P Kt7 P K4dis. ch.
check.
(BLACK) ALEKHINE
74. Q Ktich. K B6
75- Q Rich. K Q6
76. Q -Q ich . K - K 5
77. Q Ktich. K B5
78. Q Bich. K Kt4
79. Q Ktich. K R3
80. QxPch. R(B) Kt4
81. Q QB3
Threatening Q R8 Mate.
The checks are temporarily
over, for after 8 1Q R3CI1., K
Kt2 ; 82 Q B3ch., K K t i ;
8 3 Q -Q R 3 . R - K t 6 ; 84 Q -
R8ch., K Kt2 ; 85 Q K t (WHITE) SULTAN KHAN
7ch., K R3 ; White is right Position before White's 89th move.
out of position for making any
(D ia g r a m 56)
progress towards his draw.
81. K R2
82. K B6 89. K B5
The delicacy of the position A bold and clever attempt to
is shown by the fact that if keep drawing chances by bring
White tries 82 P Kts, P Q5 ; ing the king to counter the
83 Q x B P (of course not Q x Black pawns, his own pawn
QP, R Q4ch.), R Q4ch.; 84 remaining immune because of
K B7 (or K K7, P Q 6; 85 the threat of Q Rich. Worse
Q R4ch., K K t2 ; 86 Q K i, than useless would be 89 K
P - Q 7 ; 87 Q Qi, P - K 4 ; B7, R K t2ch.; and the pawn
winning), P Q 6; 85 Q R4 is lost.
SULTAN KHAN ALEKHINE 135
89. R(3) - K t 3 97- K Q3
90. Q B i 98. Q Q8ch. K K3
99. Q B8ch. K B3
Another fighting move, for if
100. K Q3
90 . . R x P ; 91 Q Bsch.,
and the Black pawns fall if To drive the king further
Black tries to avoid perpetual would only assist Black's game.
check. For example, 100 Q B8ch.,
90. K Kt2 K Kt4 ; 101 Q K7ch K
91. Q B5 R(7) Kt4ch. B 5 ; 102 Q R4.CI1., K K6;
92. K B4 P B7 103 Q Ktsch., K K 7 ; 104
Q Kt2ch., K Q8; 105 Q B i
It is Black's turn to play a
ch., K Q7; 106 Q B2ch.,
bold and ingenious move with a
K B8; 107 Q Rich., K
pawn. After 92 . . ., R x P ;
Black might just escape per Kt7.
petual check, but the text is 100. R xP
more decisive. The pawn is 101. Q R8ch.
immune because of the very un
usual and attractive line 93 If Q x P, R Kt6ch.; 102
QxBP, R B3ch.; 94 K x R , K K4 (K B4, R B6ch.; or
R x Q ; 95 P Kt8=Q, R K Q2, R Kt7), R K6ch.;
Kt7ch.; winning the second 103 K Q5, R Q2ch.; and
queen in the same way as the 104 . . ., R B6ch. ; winning
first. easily.
93. Q Kt5ch. K B2 101. K Kt4
102. K xP
Perpetual check is just avoid
able, but in the most surprising There is still no perpetual
way, for the key square is K6, check, for if 102 Q Kt8ch., K
to reach which the Black king B5 ; 103 Q B8ch., K K t6 ;
has somehow to get to the other 104 Q Kt8ch., K B7 ; 105
side of the White queen, at first Q B8ch., K K8 ; and the
sight an impossible feat. checks are over with Black in
an improved position, for if now
94. Q B5ch. K K2 106K x P , P K5 ; threatening
95- Q Ktsch. K Q2 an unavoidable mate in two.
96. Q B5ch. K B2
97. Q B8ch. 102 R Q2
io3- Q Kt8ch. K 5
The alternative 97 Q B7CI1., 104. Q B8ch. K K5
K K t i ; 98 Q B8ch K x
I 05- Q R8ch. R(2) Kt2
P ; 99 Q K7ch., K R3 ; 100
106. K Q2
Q R3ch., R R 4 ; leads
nowhere. Thus the Black king A queen move, unpinning the
has succeeded in getting round rook would allow 106 . . ., R
the White queen. K t7ch.; 107 K Qi, R Kt
136 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

8ch.; 108 K K2, R(2) Kt7 If P x K t ; 14 P x B , P


Mate. The tremendous struggle QR3 ; 15 B Kt5, threatening
is over at last. B B2 and B Kt3.
106. R K t7ch . 14. K B i B B i
107. K K i K K6 15. K t Q4 K B2
108. K B i 16. B B4ch. K Kt3
Of course if 108 Q R3CI1, Here B Q3 ; 17 B xB ch .,
R(2) Kt6 ; with mate to fol K x B ; 18 K t B5ch., B x K t ;
low, but mate follows the text 19 B x B, would bring about the
move also. draw which Black is trying to
avoid.
108. R B7CI1.
Resigns. 17. P QR4 P QR4
18. P QKt4
With the better game. White
feels in a position to start an
GAME 44 attack. This sacrifice of a pawn
and the resulting passed RP
SPIELMANNLASKER
create considerable difficulties
for Black.
Moscow tournament, 1935. 18. PxP
19. P Rsch. K Kt2
S cotch G am e
The loss of the exchange by
B B 7ch. would be enough to
I. P K4 P K4 deter Black from R x P, though
2. Kt KB3 Kt QB3 actually he would run into mate
3- P -Q 4 PxP by 20 R x R , K x R ; 21 B
4- K txP Kt B3 B7ch., K R5 ; 22 R R i
5- Kt QB3 B K t5 Mate.
6. K txK t K tPxKt
7- B Q3 P -Q 4 20. P x P K t K5
8. PxP Q K2ch.
If B x P ; 21 KR K ti, P
The usual P x P is better, but b4 ; 22 K t B2, with much the
Lasker as so often seeks to better game. The RP is now a
bring about a difficult game in formidable threat.
the hope of out-manoeuvring [Diagram 57]
his opponent.
21. K txP P Kt4
9. Q K2 Q x Qch.
10. K xQ PxP Black has got more than he
11. Kt Kt5 K Qi bargained for. He cannot meet
12. R Qi P B3 Whites pretty attack by K x
13. P QB3 R Kich. K t because of 22 QR Bich.,
SPIELMANN LASKER 137
(BLACK) LA SK E R
25. Kt B6
After K t x B, P x K t ; 26
B Q2, B x P ; 27 B x B , R x
B ; White would lose the QRP
and Black would draw.
25. B Kt2
He finds he still cannot play
B x P because of 26 QR K ti,
after which the bishop cannot
move because of R Kt6 Mate,
for if B QB4 ; 27 B K7, is
decisive and if B x P ; 27 Kt X
B, K x K t; 28 R Rich., R
(WHITE) SPIELM ANN R5; 29 RxRch., K x R 30 R
Position before White's 21st move. Rich. The only reply would
(D ia g r a m 57)
be 26 . . ., K Kt4 ; and then
follows 27 Kt Q4ch., K B5
K Q2 (K K t2; 23 R B7ch., (K B4; 28 B K7ch., or K
K K t i ; 24 R K7 dis. ch.); R5 ; 28 R Rich., B R6 ; 29
23 B Ktsch., K K2 (K B Bi) j 28 QRBich., B
Qi ; 24 R x Pch.); 24 R B B6 ; 29 Kt K2, P Q5 ; 30
7ch., B Q2 ; 25 R x P , K R P B3, R K4; 31 RxPch.,
Q i ; 26 B x B (threatening both and wins.
B B5 dis. ch. and R Ksch.), 26. QR B i R QB5
R x B (Kt B3; 27 B Q6 27. B K3 K Kt4
Mate); 27 R(5) x Rch., winning
easily. Or if 25 . . ., K R B i ; Forced, to prevent White
26 R(5) xBch., K K3 ; 27 B consolidating with B B5.
B4ch., K B4; 28 RxPch.,
K Kt3 ; 29 B Q3, R x R ; 28. Kt R7ch. K x P
30 R x R , R K i ; 31 P B3, 29. B Kt6
winning. Black therefore gives
up the K K tP in order to force Black has successfully sur
the White QB off its diagonal vived the first phase. The
and by the threat of K x K t to struggle now shifts to the QRP.
win the White QKtP. 29. R B6
22. B x K t RxB 30. R Ktich. R Kt6
23. Kt Q8ch. K R3 31. K t B6ch.K R5
24. B x P B K3 32. B Q4
He cannot take the KtP yet Unless he can get a rook on
because of K t x P , remaining to the QR file he can never ad
two pawns ahead. vance thejpawn.
138 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

32. R xR B5, R K3c h .; 43 K B i, K


33. R xR BxB Q7 ; 44 P Kt3, B B3.
34. KtxB R R3 Drawn.

The pawn is still taboo, for A game that was in the


if K x P ; 35 R Rich., and if balance up to the very last
R x P ; 35 R Rich., K K ts; move.
36 Kt B6ch., winning the rook
either way.
35. R Rich. K Kt5
36. K K2 B Q2
GAME 45
37. Kt B2ch.

If K Q2, B R5 ; and the EUWEALEKHINE


RP falls.
19th match game, Eindhoven,
37. K B6
1937-
38. Kt K3 B Kt4ch.
39. K K i N im z o - I n d ia n D e f e n c e
K Qi is no better because
of P Q5 ; 40 Kt Qsch., K 1. P Q4 Kt KB3
Kt7 ; 41 R B i, B K7CI1.; 2. P QB4 P k 3
42 K Q2, R x P. 3. Kt QB3 B Kt5
4. Kt B3 Kt K5
39- p Q5 Premature. The knight will
40. R Bich.
have to return shortly.
Now if Kt Qsch., K Kt7 ; 5. Q B2 P Q4
41 R Qi, R K3ch.; 42 K 6. P K3 P QB4
Q2, R K7 Mate. White, so far 7. B Q3 Kt KB3
from having a win, suddenly
finds he must take care to avoid For if Kt x Kt, he will have
a loss. the utmost difficulty in castling.

40. K Q6 8. BPxP KPxP


9. PxP BxP
Black is also not out of
Blacks lack of development
danger, for if K Kt7 ; 41 R
still hampers his castling. For
B5, P x Kt (not R x P ; 42 Kt
example if now O O ; 10 O
4ch.); 42 RxBch., K B
O, B x P ; 11 P K4, P x P
6 ; 43 P x P, with still some
definite winning chances. ( P -Q 5 ; 12 Kt K2, B - K t 3 ;
13 B KKts, wins); 12 Kt x
41. R Qich. P, B K2 ; 13 Kt x Ktch, win
ning a pawn. Or if n . . . , Kt x
If R B5, B R5 ; 42 Kt P ; 12 Kt x P, Kt x P ; 13
EUWE ALEKHINE 139
BxPch., K R i ; 14 Q x B , (BLACK) A L E K H IN E

wins.
10. 0 O Kt B3
11. P K4 B K2
If Kt QKts; 12 B Ktsch.,
B Q2; 13Q K 2,orif P x P ;
12 K t x P , K t x K t ; i 3 B x K t ,
with advantage.
12. P K5
In view of Black's difficulties
he could afford to wait and
secure himself with P QR3.
12. Kt KKt5 (W HITE) EU W E

13. R K i Position before Black's 17th move.


B KB4 was the winning (D ia g r a m 58)
line. Black now takes advan
tage of the vulnerability first of 18. B Kt5
KB7 and then of QB7 to fight
Now if P x Kt, P x P.; 19 K t
back. White will succeed in
Kts (forced, to prevent Q
forcing Black to give up any
R5), K t B7 ; 20 B KB4 (to
idea of castling, but will now
allow Kt K3), P Kt6. White
have to waste time with awk
could not play 20 K t K3, at
ward defensive tactics.
once because of Q x Kt.
13. Kt Kts
18. Q K t3
14. B Ktsch. K B i
19. K t R4
If B Q2 ; 15 Q - B 5, P -
And again if P x Kt, P x P ;
K R 4 ; 16 P K6, winning.
20 K t R4, Black has the
15- Q K2 B QB4 choice of K t B7 threatening
16. K t Q i B B4 Kt Q5, or of P Kt6.
17. P KR3
[Diagram 58] 19. B K5
20. P x Kt Kt B7
17. P KR4 21. Kt QB3 Kt Q5
22. Q B i PxP
If Kt B7, White gets two 23. K t R4
minor pieces for the rook, which
is more than good value when Black has built up a threaten
Black's K R is shut in. Only by ing position at the cost of a
the most bold and imaginative piece. P Kt6 has always to be
play can Black still hope to guarded against, and White
save the game. therefore tries to break up
140 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

Blacks hold on the dangerous R x Kt ; 31 P x R, Q x Rch.; 32


diagonal. Clearly if 23 Kt xB , Q x Q , Kt K7ch. ; with at
then P x Kt ; 24 B K2, P least an equal ending.
Kt6.
30 Q xQ
23. Q B2 31 RxQ RxKt
24. R xB 32 R B4 Kt K7ch.
The logical move was Kt x B, 33 K B i Kt B5
Q x K t ; 25 B Q3, remaining 34 K K ti P Kt6
a piece ahead, for if then R 35 B R6
R4 ; 26 QR Bi, Q Kt3 ; 27 Of course if R x P , Kt R
B K3, R x K t ; 28 B x B , 6ch.; wins the rook, and if P x
P x B ; 29 KR Qi, R Qi ; P, Kt K7ch.; 36K B i, Kt x
30 Q B4, wins. The specula Pch. Black comes out a pawn
tive text move does not turn ahead and actually tries to win,
out so well. but there proves to be not quite
24. PxR enough in it. A most astonish
25- Q B4 R B i ing recovery.
26. R B i P QKt3
27. Kt xB PxKt 35- P x Pch.
28. B QR6 36. K xP R R3
37- R xP R xB
Subsequent events show that 38. RxKt RxP
P K6 was better with the 39- R QKt4 P Kt3
probable continuation Kt x P ; 40. R-- K t 7 K Kt2
29 Kt Kt6ch., P x K t ; 30 Q 41. K B3 P Kt4
xKt. As played, Black will 42. P--Q K t 4 K Kt 3
surprisingly recover all his lost 43- P-- K t 5 P B4
material. 44- P-Kt6 R R6ch.
28. Q xP 45- K -B 2 P R 3
46. R-Kt8 R QKt6
29. B xR QxB
30. QxQBPch. 47- P--K t 7 K Kt2
48. R-QR8 R xP
For if now P KKt3, then 49- R xP Drawn.
RESHEVSKY BOTVINNIK 141

M. Botvinnik (b. 1911) began to win his great reputation in 1932,


when he carried off the Russian championship. In a nation of
many masters he has consistently shown himself the greatest. His
tournament successes include Leningrad, 1934, Moscow, 1935,
Nottingham, 1936, and Groningen, 1946.
S. Reshevsky (b. 1911) was taken as a child prodigy to
America and became a United States citizen. He reappeared in
the 1930s as a fully fledged master, and rapidly proved himself
the strongest player in America. His tournament successes include
the sharing of 1st prize in the strong tournament at Kemeri, 1937.

GAME 46 15. B Kt2 B B i


16. Q Q3 B K3
RESHEVSKYBOTVINNIK 17- P B3 Kt Q2
18. Kt R4 P QKt3
Avro tournament, 1938. The apparent weakness of the
QBP after this move will be
N im z o -In d ia n D e f e n c e effectively covered from attack
by the movement of the Black
1. P Q4 K t KB3 knight to QB5. There is no real
2. P QB4 P k 3 reason for not playing the pawn
3. Kt QB3 B Kt5 to the 4th at once.'
4. P K3 O O
5. Kt K2 P Q4 19. QR B i P QKt4
6. P QR3 B K2 20. Kt B5 Kt Kt3
7. P x P KtxP 21. B B3 R R2
8. K t x K t PxKt 22. P K4 Kt B5
9. P KKt3 23. R R i B x Kt
Deciding that the pressure of So far the game has been one
his bishop on the centre is worth of careful and slow develop
the weakness of the White ment. Now Black prepares to
squares. invade Whites game along the
Q file.
9. K t Q2
10. B Kt2 K t B3 24. QP x B R Q2
11. 0 0 B Q3 25- Q Q4 p- b 3
12. Kt B3 P B3 26. P B4 PxP
13. P -Q K t4 P -Q R 3 27. QxKP R Q6
14. R K i R K i 28. QR B i R xB
142 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

This sacrifice, based on the (b l a c k ) b o t v i n n i k

resulting weakness of Whites


KR, turns out a somewhat
doubtful speculation.
29. R x R B B2
30. R Q3
Not Q K ti because of Q
Q5ch., winning. White fights
every move from this point.
30. Q K ti
31. R(K) Qi R x Q
32. B x R
Of course if R Q8ch., R (w h i t e ) r e s h e v s k y

K i ; and Black wins a piece. Position before Black's 35th move.


(D ia g r a m 59)
32. Q K B i
33. R Q8 B K i
34- R K i White now makes a slip. The
rook needs to go one square
Most ingenious. The more further, to Kt8, as will appear.
obvious B x B P would be
answered by B x B ; 35 R x Q 38. P b 4
ch., K x R ; with good chances 39. B x P Q R4
for Black. Now Black cannot 40 P Kt4 Q Kt4
prevent White recovering the 41. R B7ch.
piece and coming out with two With the rook on QKt8 White
rooks for the queen. could now play R Kt7ch., K
34- K B2 B i (K Q i ; 42 R Qich.,
35. B x R P winning); 42 B R7, threaten
[Diagram 59] ing R Bich., winning.
41. K Qi
35. Kt K4 42. R B8ch. K K2
Another ingenuity, this time 43. P K6 P Kt3
by Black, who hopes by this to 44. R B7ch. K Qi
keep the rooks split and to re 45. R Q7ch.
tain complications. A last desperate attempt to
36. P x K t Q R i win, based on the passed KP.
37. B B2 K K2 If in reply B x R , then 46 P
38. R B8 K7ch., Q x P (not K K i ; 47
BxBch., and the pawn
Blacks plan succeeds, for queens); 47 R x Q , K x R ; 48
EUWE KERES I4 3

BxB, KxB ; 49 P KR4, 47. R Q8ch. K B2


wins. 48. R x B QxPch.
49. K R i Q B6ch.
45* K B i 5* K K ti Q Kt5ch.
46. P K7 PxB Drawn.

P. Keres (b. 1916) is the most brilliantly combinative player


among all the young masters. His gifts are allied with deep posi
tional judgment and he was thus able to take 1st prize in his first
major International tournament, the great contest at Semmering,
1937, and to follow it up by winning the Avro tournament of 1938.
He is an Estonian by birth.

GAME 47 7. P KKt3 P Q3
8. Kt B3
EUWEKERES
If B Kt2, P K4. The
game now transposes into a
Avro tournament, 1938. kind of Queens Indian Defence
where Black has no need to
D utch D e f e n c e
play Kt K5 in order to get in
P KB4.
1. P Q4 P k 3
2. P QB4 B KtSch. 8. P QKt3
3. Kt B3 P KB4 9. B Kt2 B Kt2
4. Q Kt3 Q K2 10. O O QKt Q2
5. P -Q R 3 11. P QKt4 O O
The orthodox P KKt3 12. B Kt2 QR B i
would be answered by 5 . . ., 13. KR Qi P B4
Kt QB3 ; 6 Kt B3, Kt R4. 14. QPxP KtPxP
Blacks withholding of Kt He must accept the weakness
KB3 has gained him a move of the centre pawns, for if QP x
elsewhere with some effect. P ; 15 Kt K5, B x B ; 16
White must therefore take pre K x B , KR Q i ; 17 P Kts,
liminary steps before he can threatening Kt B6.
play P KKt3.
15- Q Q3 Kt Kt3
5- B x Ktch.
6. Q xB Kt KB3 Black has calculated accu
144 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

rately that his pawn position is 24. K txK t Q K3


defensible owing to this counter 25. B R3 BxKt
attack. If now 16 Q x QP, then 26. Q B2 B Q4
Q x Q ; 17 R x Q , K t x P ; 18 27. P R5
B x K t , K t x R ; 19 B K7, Kt
K5 ; 20 B x R , K x B ; with Naturally not 27 B x B P , Kt
approximate equality. Q2.
16. P Kt5 KR Qi 27. B Kt2
17. P -Q R 4 P -Q 4 28. B Kt2 Kt Q4
18. PxP R xP 29. Q B4 P R4
19. Q B2 RxRch. 30. P k 3 K R2
20. QxR SI- R -Q i P K t3
He must defend his QRP. If 32. B K B i R B2
20 R x R , then B K5 ; 21 Q 33- Q -K t3 R -Q 2
Kt3, P QB5 ; 22 Q R2, Q 34- B B4 K R3
35- P R4
K t5.
20. Kt B5 (b l a c k ) KER BS

21. B QBi
Somewhat better was B x Kt,
Q x B ; 22 R Bi.
21. P K4
For now Black could play Kt
K5 with a very aggressive
position. Thetextmoveseriously
weakens the diagonal on to his
king.
22. Q Kt3 B Q4
23. K t Q2
(WHITE) EUW B
The game becomes compli
cated. The bishop is attacked, Position before Black's 35th move.
and therefore indirectly the (D ia g r a m 60)
knight also. Less good was 23
Kt R4, P K 5; 24 K t x P , A most critical position,
Q - k 4. especially for Black. White has
23- P K5 maintained his pressure on the
White diagonal and also con
After the alternative K t trols the long Black diagonal.
K t 3 ; 24 BxB ch., K t(K t)x Since he can make no progress
B ; 25 K tB4, the White Q on the White diagonal, a switch
side pawns are a danger. to the Black one by 35 B R i,
FINE KERES 145
preparing Q Kt2, seems in White also to be aggressive and
dicated. Black is then in diffi play 36 R x K t , B x R ; 37 Q
culty as the following lines B3, Q K ti ; 38 B x B , R x B ;
show: 35 . . ., Q K t i ; 36 39 K P x P, threatening the im
Q Kt2, Q Qi (Q K3 ; 37 mediate advance of the Q side
Q R8ch., R R2 ; 38 B K t pawns.
7ch., K K t4; 39 P R4ch.,
K Kt5; 40 K Kt2, threaten 36. P K6
ing B K2 mate. Or 36 The point of Black's counter-
.. ., R R 2 ; 37 B x K t , play. The long White diagonal
B x B ; 38 Q K5, B Kt6 ; 39 is to be opened to his bishop and
Q B4CI1., P Kt4 \ 40 R the K K tP weakened and made
Q6ch.); 37 B x K t , B .xB ; 38 an object of attack.
R x B , R x R ; 39 Q Kt7ch.,
K K t4 ; 40 P Rjch. How 37. B x K t P K7
ever, Black can just hold the The counter-attack has a
attack off for the moment by magnificent finale. If 38 B x Q,
35 . . ., B R i ; 36 Q Kt2, RxRch. ; 39 K R2, R R8
R R2. Mate.
35- P B5 38. R K i Q xB
39. Q x Q R xQ
He must counter-attack or 40. P B3
die.
If R x P , again R Q8ch.,
36. K P x P and mates.
The best chance, as H. Go- 40. R Q8
lombek pointed out, was for 41. K B2 Drawn.

R. Fine (b. 1914), the American master, first made a repu


tation as a member of the American team at the Folkestone
tournament, 1933. Since then he has consistently shown himself
one of the worlds masters, his best result being 1st prize at the
Moscow, 1937, tournament. He is a great theoretician in all
phases of the game.

GAME 48 R u y L o pe z

FINE-KERES 1. P K4 P K4
2. Kt KB3 Kt QB3
Avr tournament, 1938. 3. B Kt5 P -Q R 3
146 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

4- B R4 Kt B3 i S K t x P . P x K t ; 16P B3,B
5- 0 -0 B K2 B4ch.; 17 P Q4, P x P ; 18
6. Q K2 p QKt4 P x Kt, P x P dis. ch.; winning.
7- B Kt3 P -Q 3 15. B x Kt
8. P -Q R 4 B Kt5
16. PxB Kt Kt4
The most vigorous reply to 17. K Kt2
White's immediate threat of
Still eschewing safe drawing
P x P and his ultimate threat of
lines. After 17 B xKt, B x B ;
R Qi followed by operations
18 P x P , P x P ; 19 R K i,
on the Q file. The alternative
B B5 ; 20 R K2 (against
R QKti is followed by 9 P x
R Kti), R Q i ; 21 Kt R3,
P, P x P ; 10 P B3, B Kts ;
the bishops of opposite colours
11 R Qi, O O ; 12 P Q4,
indicate a probably impending
and White has achieved his
draw. He prefers to keep two
ideal development.
bishops and accept a slightly
9. P B3 0 O inferior pawn position.
10. PxP PxP
17. R K ti
11. R xR Q xR
18. B QB4 PxP
12. Q xP
19. PxP Kt K3
Safer was P Q3, but White 20. P Q5
plays to win by disturbing the
The best way of defending the
balance of the game. He must
QP. Black would get a passed
now be prepared to face consi
QP after 20 B x Kt, P x B ; 21
derable pressure on his Q side
R K i, K B2 ; 22 Kt B3,
down the open QKt file.
Kt B3 ; 23 P Q5, P x P .
12. Kt R2
20. Kt B4
Of course he cannot recover 21. Kt B3 Kt B i
the pawn at once, for if Kt x P ; 22. R K i K B i
13 B Q5. Nor is the likely 23. R K2 P B4
looking Kt QR4 sufficient 24. Kt Kt5
after 13 B B2, Kt x P ; 14 B
If White were content to
xKt, Q x B ; 15 Q x K t , Q x
draw, the strong position of the
Q K t ; with a precarious game.
knight would justify leaving it
13. Q K2 Q xP undisturbed and preferring 24
14. Q xQ KtxQ B K3. But White now en
15- P Q4 visages combinative play based
on the weakness of Blacks
The result of Blacks subtle
12th move is now apparent, for QB3
White must submit to the dis 24. Kt Kt3
ruption of his K side unless he 25. P Kt3 Kt x QP
plays the awkward B Qi. If 26. Kt Q4
FINE KERES 147
The point. He is not in K t 7 ; in either case leaving
terested in recovering the pawn Black with irresistible Q side
by 26 K t x QP, B x K t ; 27 pawns.
BxKt.
28. R xB
26. Kt Kt5 29. K t B6
The culmination of Whites
Any other move with the combination. If Black replies
knight fails to guard his vital R Kt3, then 30 K t x B , P x
QB3, and White then wins by B ; 31 P x P, with a good game.
27 R x B , K x R ; 28 Kt But Black has conducted his
B6ch. defence with great perspicacity
27. B Q2 and reveals that he too is play
ing for a win by giving up the
(BLACK) K ER ES
exchange for strong passed
pawns.
29. PxB
30. KtxR PxP
31. Kt Q5 K t Q6
The brilliant move on which
Black has based his counter
play. If now 32 K t x B (not
R x B , P Kt7), Kt Bsch., 33
K B i, K t x R ; 34 Kt Q5,
P Kt7 ; wins.
32. R Q2 P Kt7
33. R Qi P B4
(W HITE) F IN E Now there begins an intense
Position before Black's 27th move. struggle around the pawns. If
at once 33 . . ., K t B 8 ; 34
( D i a g r a m 61)
Kt B3, B B3 ; 35 Kt K ti,
P B4 ; 36 R Q2, P QB5 ;
Again threatening to plant 37 R B2.
the knight on QB6 after B x Kt.
34. K B i P QB5
27- P04 35. R K ti
28. B x Kt
Not K K2, allowing the
Insufficient would be 28 Kt x
Black knight to go to QB8 with
P, P x B ; 29 R x B (K txB ,
check. The vital square in the
R Ki), P x P ; or 28 R x B ,
struggle is now QB2.
P x B (not K x R ; 29 B x K t ,
R x B ; 30 Kt B6ch.); 29 R 35- B B4
xB P, P x P ; 30 R x K t , P 36. K K2 BxP
148 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

A magnificent move, coolly The only move by which he


establishing a majority on the can keep a piece defending his
other wing. Whites apparently QB2.
convincing reply has been
allowed for to a nicety. 40. B x Kt
41. K Qi B Q3
37. K t-K 3 42. K B2 B xP
43. R K R i
(b l a c k ) k e r e s
The king can hold the two
pawns on the Q side as easily as
one, so rather than waste a
move capturing one of them,
White regards it as timely to
prevent Black obtaining too
great a majority on the other
wing.
43- B K4
44- R x P K B2
45- R R i P Kt4
46. R K i K B3
47- R K K ti K K t3
48. R K i B B3
(w h i t e ) f i n e
49- R K K ti P K t5
Position before Black's 37th move.
( D ia g r a m 62)
A fine move forcing the issue.
He only needs one passed pawn
on this wing.
37. P B6
38. Kt B2 50. P x P P B5
51. P - K t 5
Not to be deflected from his Fighting to the end. If now
fight against the pawns. If 38 5 1 . . . , B x P ; 52 K xP, draws.
K x Kt, B x K t ; 39 K x P, B
B 8 ; revealing the purpose of 51- B Q5
his 36th move. 52. R Qi B K6
53. K x P B B8
38. Kt K8 54. R Q6ch.
Brilliantly continuing his K B2 fails because the rook
fight to control Whites QB2. cannot hold the king and pawn
If now 39 Kt x K t, B x K t ; 40 on the other flank. He there
K or R x B, P B 7 ; or 40 K fore plays to hold the Q side
0 3 B Q7. with the rook and bring the
king over to the K side, but the
39. K t R3 B B4 latter part of this plan cannot
40. K x Kt be fulfilled.
BOTVINNIK ALEXANDER 149
54- K xP home after 58 R Kt8ch., K
55. R Kt6 P B6 B7 ; 59 R Kt8, K B 8 ; 60
56. K Q3 K B5 K K4 (R Kt7, P B 7 ;
57- R Kt8 K Kt6 61 R Kt8, K K8 ; 62 R
Resigns. K8ch., K Q8), P B7 ; 61 K
B3, K K8 ; 62 R K8ch.,
For one of the pawns get K Q8 ; 63 R Q8ch., B Q7.

C. H. O'D. Alexander (b. 1909) is a brilliant British master of


Irish extraction who won the British championship in 1938. His
best tournament result so far is the 1st prize at Hastings, 1947.

GAME 49 Kt B 2; as in a game Reshev-


sky Fine, New York, 1941.
BOTVINNIKALEXANDER The text move threatens the
squares QB5 by B R3 and at
Anglo-Russian radio match, a suitable moment QKt6 by
1946. P R5. The QRP is however
weaker on the 4th than on the
N im zo - I n d ia n D e f e n c e 3rd rank, a fact which Black
later turns to good account.
I. P -Q 4 Kt KB3 10. B R3
2. P -Q B 4 P k 3
3- Kt QB3 B Kt 5 The key move of Blacks
4- p k 3 P -Q 4 system of defence, intended to
5- P -Q R 3 B x Ktch. clarify the position in the centre
6. PxB P B4 by hindering Whites P K4.
7- PxQP KPxP 11. BxB
8. B Q3 0 0
9- Kt K2 P QKt3 If B R3 at once, then B x
10. P QR4 B ; 12 Q x B , P B5 ; 13 Q
B2, R K i ; with positions
A move which introduces a similar to the actual game but
critical element into the game, with Blacks QKt on a better
for the position is too simple square.
after 10 O O, B R3 ; n B x
B, K t x B ; 12 Q Q3, Q B i ; 11. KtxB
13 B Kt2, P x P ; 14 B P x P , 12. B R3
150 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

Preventing the rapid move wasting move results in Black


ment of the Black knight to getting a powerful Q side at
OB2 and K3, by the threat to tack started.
the QBP.
20. P QR4
12. R K i 21. P K5 P QKt4
13- Q Q3 P B 5 22. B Q6
The only alternative was Q After 22 P x Kt, P Kt5 ; 23
B i, after which P R5 is play Kt B5, P x B ; Blacks pawns
able. Black must therefore are so far advanced as to be a
allow the easing of the tension danger. Botvinnik prefers a
in the centre, and now Whites line which prevents so rapid an
P K4, if he can manage to play advance of the Black pawns.
it, fits into the position beauti
22. R K3
fully from a strategic point of
23. P x Kt
view.
But now Kt B5 was strong.
14. Q B2 Q Q2
Alexander gives 23 Kt B5,
Beginning a far-sighted plan QR K i(K t K i; 24Kt K7
to take advantage of the weak ch., K R i ; 25 K t x P , Kt
ness of the QRP, by bringing x B ; 26 Kt Kt6) ; 24 Kt
the QKt to QKt6. This plan K7ch., R(3)xKt; 25 B x R ,
takes four moves, and White R x B ; 26 P x K t , R x R ; 27
just has time to get a counter R x R , P K ts; 28 Q KB2,
attack started in the centre. threatening Q Kt3.
15. 00 Kt K ti 23. R xB
16. QR K i Kt B3 24. PxP P Kts
17. Kt Kt3 25. R K5 R K i
If Kt Bi, against Kt Kt6, He cannot allow White to
thenKt QR4; 18 P B3, Kt control the K file. If Kt x P ; 26
Kt6 ; 19 Kt xKt, Q x P ; and P x K t , P B6 ; 27 Q B i, R
Black still achieves his strate QBi (Q B3 ; 28 Kt B5,
gical object. E. Klein recom R K3 ; 29 Kt K7ch.); 28
mended Kt K5 as the best Kt B5, R Q2 ; 29 Q Kts,
answer to the text move. threatening Kt R6 Mate, and
if P x P ; 26QXP, Q Kts; 27
17. Kt QR4 Q K3, Q Kt3 ; 28 Kt B5,
18. P B3 Kt Kt6 R K3; 29 R Ki, QR K i ;
19. P K4 Q xP 30 Q Kt 5.
20. Q Kt2
26. P B4
The attempt to save a move
by B Q6 fails against Kt B4. Not R(B) K i, R x R ; 27
But the need to play this time- R x R , K t x P ; 28 P x K t , Q
BOTVINNIK ALEXANDER 151

Q8ch.; 29 K B2, P B6 ; 30 (BLACK) A L E X A N D E R

Q K2, Q x Q c h . ; 31 R x Q
(threatening R K8ch. and Kt
Bsch.), R K3 ; with advan
tage. White must keep a rook
on his back rank for the time
being.
26. Q 2
Defending the QP before
moving the other rook. The Q
side is now strong enough to
await the clearing of the issues
elsewhere.
(W HITE) B O T V IN N IK
27. Q K2 R (3 )-K 3
28. P B5 R xR Position before Black's 30th move.
29. P x R PxP (D ia g r a m 63)
He must submit to pressure
on his king, for if K x P ; 30
Q Kt4ch., K R i ; 31 Kt R5, then P B 7 ; 32 Q R4,
R5, R K K t i ; 32 QxRch., Kt Kt6 ; 33 Kt B5 (threat
K x Q ; 33 Kt B6ch K ening Kt R6 Mate) Q x
B i ; 34 Kt xQch., K K2 ; 35 K t; 34 R x Q , P B 8 = Q ch.;
Kt Kt6. He therefore con winning.
tinues to develop his own threats
on the Q side, but with 30 Kt 31. K R i Kt Q5
R5 white could obtain the 32. Q K3 R R i
better game.
The unfortunate corollary of
30- P B6 his 30th and 31st moves. Only
[Diagram 63] thus can he unpin the knight,
and at the same time guard
30. Q R2ch. against K t B5.
A bad spot for the queen as 33. Q x P P R5
will appear. With Kt Q5 he 34- Q x K t
might seriously embarrass
White, the sort of threat re A devastating and beautiful
sulting being 31 Q K3, Q continuation, which demolishes
Kts; 32 Q x P , Q x K t ; 33 Blacks game.
QxQ, Kt K 7ch.; 34 K B2,
K t x Q ; 35 K x K t , P Q 5 ; 34- Q xQ
with advantage, while if 31 Q 35- K t B5 P R4
152 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

The only answer to the 38. P K6 Resigns.


threats of Kt K7 Mate and Kt
For if R x P ; 39 Kt R6ch.,
R6 Mate.
K R 2; 40 P Kt8=Qch., and
36. Kt x Q R K i if P x P ; 39 Kt R6ch., K R
37. Kt B5 P Q5 2 ; 40 P B7.

V. Smyslov (b. 1921) is one of the youngest generation of


Russian masters and has already shown himself to be a potential
candidate for the highest honours.
Katetov is a prominent Czech player.

GAME 50 If Kt K5, P B 3 ; 12 Kt
Q3, P B5 ; and the KBP is
SMYSLOV KATETOV lost.

Moscow Prague match, 1946. 11. P QKt3


12. o o o
F re n c h D e fe n c e
More in harmony with the
fianchetto of the KB was O0
P K4 P K3
as soon as possible, but after 12
p Q4 p -Q 4 B Kt2, B Kt2 13 O O,
Kt QB3 Kt KB3
PxP; 14 K t x P , B B4;
B Kt5 PxP
Whites position is not alto
KtxP B K2
gether comfortable. He there
BxKt BxB
fore decides to adopt a riskier
P -Q B 3 Kt Q2
and more aggressive develop
P KB4
ment.
The natural and more usual
move is Kt B3. Black at once 12. B Kt2
prepares to counter in the 13. B Kt2 Kt B3
centre by P QB4. 14. Kt K5 O O
15. PxP
8. B K2
9. Q B2 P QB4 Threatening 16 Kt x Ktch.,
10. Kt B3 Q B2 B x K t ; 17 R Qy, winning a
11. P KKt3 piece.
SMYSLOV KATETOV 153
15. Kt Q4 ing chances at the cost of
16. KR K i material and fixes on the weak
K P as an objective.
The attempt to win a pawn
by P x P may lead to trouble 20. P B4
after Q x P ; 17 Kt Q7, Q 21. Kt(4) K ts B x P
K6ch.; 18 Q Q2, KR Q l ; 22. Q K2 BxR
19 Kt K5, Q x Q c h. ; 20 R x 23. QxPch K R i
Q, Kt K6; 21 B B3f P 24. R xB
B 3; 22 R K i, P x K t ; 23 R
Not 24 Q x Kt, Q R8ch.; 25
xKt, P x P ; 24 P x P , P K4.
K Q2, QR Q i ; nor 24 Kt
16. PxP K5, Q R8ch.; 25 K Q2,
17. P KR4 P B3 QxP ch .; 26 K x B (K Q3,
Q x P Mate), K t x P Mate, nor
Now Black rids himself of the 24 Kt B7ch., R x K t ; 25 Q
pressure and frees his pieces for xR , Q R8ch.; mating in the
action, though at the cost of a same way. Now White threatens
weak KP. to recover material by Kt B7
ch. as well as by capturing the
18. Kt B3 Q R4
bishop if the knight moves.
19. P R4
Black, however, keeps the at
That White is already in diffi tack going with a brilliant
culties is revealed by his having sacrifice of the bishop.
recourse to this awkward de
(BLACK) K AT ETO V
defence. The more natural look
ing P R3 allows Black to sacri
fice on his QR6. For example,
19 P R3, P B5 ; 20 B R3,
P - B 4 ; 2i Kt(4) Kt5, B x P ;
22 P x B , K t x Q B P ; 23 R
Q4 (R Q7. B B3 ; 24 R
K7, QR Kti), QR K t i ; 24
Kt K5, B K sch .; 25 Kt x
B, Q x P c h . ; 26 K Q2, K t x
Ktch.; 27 K Qi, R Kt7.
19. B B3
20. B R3
(WHITE) SM VSLOV
Playing to avoid the loss of
the exchange would allow Black Position before Black's 24th move.
a strong game after 20 P Kt3, (D ia g r a m 64)
P B5 ; or 20 Q K2, B x P ;
21 R Q2 (or Q3), B Kt6. 24. KtxQBP
White prefers to retain attack 25. QxB
154 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

Not 25 Kt B7ch., R x K t ; 32. P Kt4 Q K6ch.


26 Q x R , K t x R ; 27 Q x B , 33. K K ti Q xP
R Q i ; wins. 34. Q K6ch. K R i
35. P x Kt
25. QR K i
26. Q Q7 Kt x R Kt B7ch., R x K t ; 36 Q
27. Kt B7ch. K K ti
x R , Q Ksch.; allows Black
28. BxP
a draw by perpetual check, for
He still cannot recover his if 37 K Bi, Q K8ch.; 38 K
material, for if 28 K x Kt, R B2, Kt Qsch.; and Black
Q i ; 29 Kt x R, R x K t ; and mates.
wins. Now he threatens to draw
by Kt R6ch. 35- QxPch.
28. Q Kt3
Forcing the queen off just in
29. Kt(3) K5 Kt K6
time and very nearly securing
30. Kt Q6
an end-game advantage. But
The White counter-attack some adroit manipulation of the
now reaches its peak. Black White knights brings them in
cannot reply 30 . . ., R Q i ; to co-ordination and holds the
because of the well-known mate fort.
by 31 Q K6ch., K R i ; 32
Kt(5) B7ch., K K t i ; 33 Kt 36. Q xQ RxQ
R6 dis. ch., K R i ; 34 37- Kt Q6 R B8ch.
Q Kt8ch., R x Q ; 35 Kt (Q) 38. K B2 R KR8
B7 Mate. 39 Kt B3 R R6
40. Kt B7ch. K K ti
30. KtxB
4i- Kt(7) K5 R Kt6
31. KtxR Q Kt6
42. K -Q 3 R Kt7
Black is suddenly in diffi Drawn.
culties. He is faced not only
with the threat of a check on Black can force a passed KKtP
the dangerous diagonal by Q at the cost of his QBP. The
Q5 but also with the threat of balance on the Q side is then
P KKt4 and if the knight level, and two knights can hold
moves, Q x P Mate. rook and pawn on the other.
INDEX OF OPENINGS 155

INDEX OF OPENINGS
(The numbers refer to the numbers of the games)

OPEN KP GAMES :
Giuoco P ia n o
E v a n s G am bit . 8
S c o tc h Game 22. 44
P o n zian i O p en in g . 33
R u y L o pe z . 571 14, 20, 21 24, 29. 48
P etroff D e f e n c e . . 16
K in g ' s B ish o p ' s O p e n i n g 1. 4. 6
F a l k b e e r C o u n t e r G a m b it . 18
Cen tr e G ame . 28

CLOSE KP GAMES :
A l e k h in e D e f e n c e . . 3 2 ,4 1
F ren ch D e fe n c e . . 12, 50
S ic il ia n D e f e n c e . . 23, 27

QUEEN'S GAMBIT GAMES :


Q u e e n ' s G a m b i t ........................................................................ 2, 39
P il l s b u r y A t t a c k . . . 15, 1 9 ,2 6 , 34, 3 6 ,3 8
T a r r a sch D e f e n c e . . . . . . . . 25
Sl a v D e f e n c e . . . . . . . . . 30
I r r e g u l a r Q u e e n ' s G a m b it D e c l i n e d ......................................... 10

CLOSE Q-SIDE GAMES :


N imzo -I n d ia n D e f e n c e ......................................... 35, 45, 46, 49
K in g ' s I n d ia n D e f e n c e . . . . . . . 42
D u tch D e f e n c e . . . . . . . . . 47
T ch ig o r in D e f e n c e ........................................................................ 17
C o l l e Sy s t e m . . . . . . . . . 40
I r r e g u l a r Q u e e n 's P a w n Gam e . . . i x, 13, 37, 43
R e t i S y s t e m .................................................................................. 31
BATTLES ROYAL
OF THE CHESSBOARD
This collection of fifty great chess games contains a
wealth of chess entertainment for players of all ages.

Contains wonderful games by Morphy,


Capablanca, Alekhine and other legendary figures
All 50 games annotated in depth
Contains pen-portraits of all the players of
the games

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ISBN 1 - 85744 - 182 -6

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