RUBINSTEIN'S CHESS MASTERPIECESCopyright © 1941 by Horowitz and Harkness. All rights reserved under Pan American and International Copyright Conventions. Published in Canada by General Publishing Com- pany, Ltd., 30 Lesmill Road, Don Mills, Toronto, Ontario. Published in the United Kingdom by Constable and Company Ltd., 10 Orange Street, London This Dover edition, first published in 1960, is an unabridged and unaltered republication of the work first published by the Chess Review in 1941. International Standard Book Number: 0-486-20617-3 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 60-2932 Manufactured in the United States of America Dover Publications, Inc. 180 Varick Street New York, N.Y. 10014 Biography of AKIBA RUBINSTEIN An Eventful and Tragic Life Deep out of the shadows, out of the Middle-Ages, came Akiba Rubin- stein, A dark squalid Ghetto of Russian-Poland was the Bethlehem in which his spark of life was kindled. Rubinstein was born on December 12, 1882, in Stawiski, of the Province of Lomza. For generations his ancestors had been rabbis and scholars of the Hebrew classics, equally inured to physical privation and the intensive cultivation of the mind. In the home of Rubinstein’s parents both were to be found—keenness of intellect and stark poverty. A few weeks before his birth, his father had died, leaving behind a wife and twelve children. Akiba went to the house of his grandparents, who forthwith undertook his up-bringing. The lines of this “upbringing” were marked out to a nicety. The youngster would become a teacher of the Talmud, a student of Hebrew, even as his father and his grandfather before him. His education was indeed received in the “Cheder,” the school of the Jewish community, and the “Yeshiva,” a higher academy of religious instruction, The prescribed language was Hebrew and Yiddish: Rubinstein understood no other, and had no desire for any other. He would become an ornament of the Ghetto—nothing more. Then chess came into his life. He chanced to see two children playing the game in the “Yeshiva.” He was fascinated and from that moment chess became the ruling passion of his life. He was sixteen years of age at the time, and immediately obtained the only chess book available in Hebrew, “Chess, Checkmate,” by Sossnitz, He absorbed its contents entire. Study of the Torah, the lore of the Talmud, became an evanescent dream; only chess remained. His grandparents noted, and mourned. They cursed the devilish alchemy in whose toils the boy had become enmeshed. His mother prayed daily that the Lord bring her erring son back to the well trodden paths. But Rubinstein was lost to God; he had succumbed to a demon, that was to embody his tragic fate, and from which his life could never more be sun- dered. From the petty glory of the Ghetto and a humdrum existence, his way was to lead to world-wide renown and a soul racking ambition.At 19 Rubinstein learned that in the nearby town of Lodz there lived a real chess master, one George Salwe—a champion, who, indeed, had crossed swords with the great Tschigorin. Forthwith Rubinstein betook himself to Lodz; there he found in some way the means of subsistence, and thereafter was nowhere else to be found except in the sphere of chess. He played with those to whom Salwe gave the odds of a rook; but even against these yokels the young man of Stawiski did not shine. Clearly the lad of the Ghetto was not cut out to be a chess player. No one had any confidence in his ability except Rubinstein. He re- turned to his native village and for several months disappeared from view. Suddenly he was in Lodz once more. He entered the chess club, then direct to the table of master Salwe, and challenged him to battle. Salwe smiled indulgently; those about the master mocked in derision. But Rubinstein seated himself, and played and won. The whole club went into a huddle. Without delay a match between Salwe and Rubinstein was arranged, The result was a deadlock at 5:5. A second match was played and victory rested with Rubinstein 5:3. The old champion was dethroned, and the dreamy youth from the Polish village reigned in his stead. A year later he was sent to the Russian National Tourney at Kiev, where he obtained the 5th Prize. In 1905 he entered the international arena, and at Barmen won his spurs in the Hauptturnier A of the German Chess Association, tying with Duras for third prize. He became a recognized master. From the odds of a rook, after less than four years, he bestrode the realm of chess like a Colossus. Now began a breath-taking march from triumph to triumph. At Ostend (1905) he was third among 36 entrants. Schlechter and Maroczy alone out- ranked him, with such prime figures as Bernstein, Teichmann, Marshall, Janowski and the whole array of Russian talent trailing behind. Shortly after the new year was ushered in he scaled the pinnacle in competition among the great. At Ostend he shared first prize with Bern- stein far in advance of 28 contenders. At Karlsbad he won undisputed first honors, and with this victory broke the supremacy of the so-called Lasker- Pleiades, that is, the generation of grandmasters who were contemporaries of Lasker, and who had set the standard in the world of chess since 1890. With this victory the standard was hauled down, and Rubinstein in turn became the standard bearer of his generation, which was to include Capa- blanca, Niemzowitch, Spielmann, Tartakower, Vidmar and all others of the new epoch of chess. At St. Petersburg in 1909 the Polish master demonstrated his full equality with world champion Lasker, whom he defeated in their individual encounter. In fact it was not until the last round that Lasker’s score matched his own, so that both shared the first prize. iv His great year of triumph, however, came three years later, in 1912. In a period of twelve months, he scored no less than five first prizes in in- ternational competition, a record that in the whole gamut of chess history has never been duplicated, either before or after. San Sebastian, Pistyan, Breslau, Warsaw, and Vilna. But in this year also the shadows for the first time flitted across the spirit of Rubinstein. None the less his record blazoned forth, and it was clear to the whole world that Rubinstein was to be the next champion. Nor was this conviction shaken by his astounding failure at St. Petersburg in 1914, the first signal rebuff in his career. A great match for the world title was scheduled to take place in the spring of 1914 between Lasker and Rubinstein. The chess world waited expectantly. Then came the War. Among the millions who fell victims to the ravages of the Great War is to be numbered Rubinstein, chess genius, The post-war Rubinstein is a far different master than the triumphant hero of 1914 who was to contest with Lasker for the Championship of the World. The soul of the sensitive Rubinstein had been most delicately poised even at the height of his career, and was most sorely tried by the ravages and hardships of the war years. Gone was that inner harmony so essential for the complete fulfillment of the powers of a chess artist. It is true that even in the last fifteen years he has garnered a long list of tournament successes, and not a few first prizes, and has played games that take their place among the gems of chess literature. But Rubinstein has lost the supreme confidence in himself that is the necessary equipment of a champion. He suffers in fact from an inferiority complex, deeming himself superfluous, no longer a necessary adjunct to every great tourney, nor indeed welcome. Ever modest and retiring, his shyness has become an obsession to the point of a real mental aberration. Yet we can be sure that were he to overcome this fixation, and to find some degree of contentment, attaining that calm and clear vision that most distinguished his play in his earlier period, he would once more find his place in the fore-front of the masters in spite of his fifty years. There can be little doubt that Rubinstein has added more to the present status of chess theory and technique than any master since Steinitz, More innovations in the openings and more of the lines that are today recognized as the ultimate in correctness and strength can be traced to his genius and originality than can be ascribed to any other master. The standard defense of the Ruy Lopez—B-K2, P-Q3, P-QKt4, P-QB4, etc.—owes most to him. In the Four Knights both Kt-Q5 (leading to a draw) and Q-K2 (followed by Kt-Q), were formulated by him, and so potently aided Black, that they have all but banished this opening from serious play. In the Queen’s Gambit Declined, it was Rubinstein who perfected the Fianchetto of the King’s Bishop against Tarrasch’s defense of P-QB4, and sent that variation into vsemiretirement for many years. Indeed he most signally celebrated the triumph of this variation by resounding victories over Lasker (1909) and Capablanca (1911). In recent years he has introduced new attacks and defenses in the most | hyper-modern positions. Against Black’s 3... B-Kt5 in the Queen’s Pawn Opening, his simple P-K3 followed by Kt-K2 is especially noteworthy. Less well known is his novel sacrificial line against the Blumenfeld Counter At- tack, while his crushing treatment of the Queen’s Fianchetto Defense by @ solid phalanx of pawns that aimed at QB5, was classically illustrated in his game against Thomas. His 2... Kt-KB3 is in my judgment one of the best of Black’s resources in the Sicilian, He is a pioneer and originator who hews out new paths in the domain of chess. He is not content merely to win games, to take advantage of some lapse on the part of his adversary, to entrap his opponent into pitfalls that have been dug by others. He views himself as an artist and at each session he endeavors to add something worth while to the literature of chess and some new thought to its technique. As a result the record of his victories constitutes the most valuable compilation of games that has been brought together by any master. As We go over these one by one we are amazed at their superiority in depth and strategy over the masterpieces of those we have long honored with the label of champion. In the opinion of the writer only the games of Capablanca reach a higher standard of perfection. But Capa built largely on the labors of others, adding merely the final mark of his own great talent. His is a great gift of selection. Rubinstein is the creator and his moves bear the imprint of his own personality. Of Lasker it was indeed said that he played P-K4 with a view to the end game. But Lasker’s chief forte was the complex struggle of the mid- game, and he added little to our knowledge of the openings, being content to trod the best paths, and to leave the blazing of new trails to some more adventurous spirits. And be it said for Rubinstein that he stands as the greatest end-game player of all time, if not indeed, the most finished master we have known. In fact so profound an impression did his games make with the writer, that in a brief colloquy with Reuben Fine he ventured the thought that the Polish master ranked with Capablanca in the sheer artistry of his victories. Mr. Fine not only agreed with this appraisal, but indicated his belief that Rubinstein should be placed at the very head of the list. Why then such disparity between his talent and his recent perform- ances? Dr, Hannak writes: Rubinstein’s character is too noble for the rough and tumble of life. His colleagues know best the splendor of his personality, vi his consideration for others. So solicitous is he that his opponent be not disturbed in his reflection, that as a matter of principle, he leaves the board after each move, and only returns after his ad- versary has completed his play. Naturally much time is lost there. by, and his own thinking suffers, and many a surprising loss of Rubinstein can no doubt be attributed to this factor.” He is indeed the Spinoza of chess. More geometrico, with crystal- clear, mathematical detachment, he builds up his position—grace, ease and restraint most markedly apparent in the process, Yet his game throbs with the zeal of the artist, revealing the throes and pains of the creator, all of which are held in check by a judicial appraisal, a calm logic. His games remind us of a great symphony that flows evenly and majestically, yet contains within itself deep tones of approaching storms. From time to time the wild spirit breaks forth from the confines of its Olympian repose, giving us games like his imperishable contest with Rotlewi. Yet even in his most dashing attacks there is the supreme mastery of the elements—the sacrifice of a queen (against Duras in 1908), not to overwhelm his adversary, but to win a pawn, and some twenty-five moves later, by the most refined tech- nique, to translate the pawn advantage into victory. This is the great feature of his play—its great strategic depth. He is never superficial, never cheap or tawdry. He is never seeking merely to win, but always to create a “Work of Art.” He never plays to the score or to the weakness of his opponent, but ever to the board and to give us his best. B. F. WINKELMAN Philadelphia, 1941 With acknowledgment to Dr, Hannak's introduction to “Rubinstein Gewinnt”CONTENTS BIOGRAPHY OF AKIBA RUBINSTEIN No, of Game Page CHAPTER I. INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT AT KARLSBAD, 1907 -... 3B 1, Janowski—Rubinstein 13 2, Duras—Rubinstein 16 8. Salwe—Rubinstein 7 4. P. Johner—Rubinstein 19 5. Rubinstein—Teichmann -. 21 CHAPTER Il. INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT AT LODZ, 23 6. Rotleur—Rubinstein 23 7. Dos-Chotimirski—Rubinstein 24 8. Rubinstein—Salwe -. 26 9. Rubinstein—Salwe -. 27 10. Salwe—Rubinstein .. 30 11, Salwe—Rubinstein 32 CHAPTER Ill. INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENTS AT VIENNA, PRAGUE AND LODZ, 1908. MATCH AT VIENNA, 1908 35 12 Rubinstein—Duras -. 35 13. Rubinstein—Teichmann 36 14. Alapin—Rubinstein __ 37 15. Dr. Vidmar—Rubinstein 38 16, Rubinstein—Spielman 40 17. Marshall—Rubinstein 41 18. Rubinstein—Marshall 43 19. Rubinstein—Salwe __.. 45 CHAPTER IV. INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT AT ST. PETERS- BURG, 1909 _. AT 20. Rubinstein—Schlechter - 47 21. E, Cohn—Rubinstein --. 48 22. Rubinstein—Mieses —___.. ~ 50 23, Rubinstein—Dr. Lasker - 52 24, Speyer—Rubinstein _.. - 54 25. Dr. Vidmar—Rubinstein __. - 56 26, Forgacs—Rubinstein -. - 57 27, Duras—Rubinstein _ 59 28. Spielmann—Rubinstein 60 29. Rubinstein—Snosko-Borows! 63No. of Game Page CHAPTER V. INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENTS AT SAN SEBAS- TIAN AND KARLSBAD, 1911 ______-_--_. —- 65 30. Rubinstein—Capablanca 65 31, Rubinstein—Duras __. 67 32. Alapin—Rubinstein ~ 69 33. Rubinstein—Lowenfisch -. 70 34. Rubinstein—Alekhine _. 72 CHAPTER VI. INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENTS AT SAN SEBAS- TIAN, PISTYAN AND BRESLAU, 1912 -. 6 35. Rubinstein—Schlechter -___. 15 36. Schlechter—Rubinstein _. 76 37. Spielmann—Rubinstein 78 38. Dr. Tarrasch—Rubinstein _. 9 39. Rubinstein—Duras -.. 81 40. Rubinstein—Marshall 82 CHAPTER VII. INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENTS AT LODZ, 1916; WARSAW AND LODZ, 1917. MATCH AND QUAD- RANGULAR TOURNEY AT BERLIN, 1918 -. 85 41, Factor—Rubinstein -__ 85 42. Belitzmann—Rubinstein - 87 43, Gottesduner—Rubinstein 87 44, Regedzinsky—Rubinstein 89 45. Rubinstein—Schlechter -. 90 46. Rubinstein—Schlechter _ 92 CHAPTER VII. INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENTS AT GOTE- BURG, 1920, AND THE HAGUE, 1921 94 41, Rubinstein—Dr. Tarrasch — 94 48, Reti—Rubinstein 95 49. Rubinstein—Maroczy 97 50, Dr. Euwe—Rubinstein 98 61. Rubinsteim—Marco _ 99 52 Rubinsteim—Maroczy —------ 101 CHAPTER IX. INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENTS AT TEPLITZ- SCHONAU AND VIENNA, 1922, SIX-MASTER TOUR- NEY AT HASTINGS, 1922 103 53. Rubinstein—Dr. Tarrasch -. 103 64. Rubinstein—Teichmann -. 104 55. H. Wolf—Rubinstein _ 106 56, Rubinstein—Dr. Tarrasch _ 109 57. Yates—Rubinstein 109 58. Thomas—Rubinstein 112 59. Rubinstein—Dr. Alekhine -. 113 No, of Game Page 60. Rubinstein—Spielmann _. 115 61. Reti—Rubinstein --__.. 116 62, Rubinstein—Bogoljubow ua CHAPTER X. INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENTS AT KARLSBAD AND MAHRISCH-OSTRAU, 1923; MERAN AND BER- LIN, 1924 --------. 63. Rubinstein—Dr. Tarrasch -. 64. Rubinstein—Hromadka -. 65. Dr. Tarrasch—Rubinstein 66. Grunfeld—Rubinstein _. 67. Mieses—Rubinstein -. CHAPTER XI. INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENTS AT BADEN- BADEN AND MARIENBAD, 1925 68. Spielmann—Rubinstein -. 69. Rubinstein—Carls --. 70. Yates—Rubinstein ~.. 71, Mieses—Rubinstein - 72, Rubinstein—Samisch _. 78. Michell—Rubinstein 74. Rubinstein—Dr, Tartakower 75, Rubinstein—Janowski 76. Yates—Rubinstein _.. CHAPTER XII. INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT AT SEMMER- ING, 1926 --. 77. Kmoch—Rubinstein 78. Dr. Michel—Rubinstein 120 120 122 124 126 126 130 131 133 134 135 137 139 139 142 142 79, Rubinstein—Spielmann = _. 145 80. Rubinstein—Reti w7 81. Yates—Rubinstein —-- 148 82, Rubinstein—Grunfeld - ---- 151 CHAPTER XIII. INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENTS AT DRESDEN, BUDAPEST AND HANOVER, 1926 -_-. 83. Yates—Rubinstein ~~ 84, P. Johner—Rubinstein 85. Rubinstein—Takacs ~__. 86. Rubinstein—Frh. v. Holzhausen 87. Rubinstein—Mieses -_--. CHAPTER XIV. INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT AT KISSINGEN, AND TAGEBLATT TOURNEY AT BERLIN, 1928. 88. Rubinstein—Mieses -----. 89. Rubinstein—Dr. Tartakower -~----------. 153 153 154 156 158 159 161 161 162 xiNo. of Game Page 90. Rubinstein—Dr. Tarrasch -. 163 91. Rubinstein—Nimzowitch 92, Rubinstein—Reti -.. 93. Rubinstein—Dr, Tartakower CHAPTER XV. INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENTS AT KARLSBAD AND ROHITSCH-SAUERBRUNN, 1929; SAN REMO, 1930; PRAGUE OLYMPICS, 1931 166 168 94, Mattison—Rubinstein 11 95. Canal—Rubinstein -. 173 96. Rubinstein—Flohr --— 175 97. Rubinstein—Canal ---. 98. Rubinstein—Dr. Vidmar 99. Rubinstein—Bogoljubow 100. Kashdan—Rubinstein INDEX OF OPENINGS -- 179 180 182 INDEX OF OPPONENTS -----—-----. 188 RUBINSTEIN’S TOURNAMENT AND MATCH RECORD Chapter I International Tournament at Karlsbad, 1907 Game No. 1 FOUR KNIGHTS GAME Karlsbad, 1907 Janowski Rubinstein 1 P-K4 P-K4 2 Kt-KB3 Kt-QB3 3 Kt-B3 Kt-B3 4 B-KtS B-KtS Rubinstein had not as yet dis- covered 4... Kt-Q5! a well-known variation named after him, 5 0-0 0-0 6 P-Q3 BxKt 7 PxB P.Q3 8 B-KtS Q-K2 9 Q-Q2 wee For 9 R-K1 compare the follow- ing game. 9.... Kt-Qi 10 B-QB4 B-K3 11 B-Kt3 BxB 12 RPxB Kt-K3 The mobility of this Knight, which in all variations aims to occupy KBB, is one of the greatest obstacles which White must over- come in this opening. 13 B-R4 P-KR3 If 13... Kt-B5 White might sac- rifice a Pawn for a strong attack thus: 14 Kt-Q4, PxKt; 15 QxKt, PxP; 16 QR-K1, threatening 17 Q- K3, to be followed by 18 P-KB4! Black could maintain the Pawn at @ grave disadvantage in position. 14 KR-K1 P-R3 Kt-B5 would still have been bad, for after Kt-Q4, Black would have no satisfactory reply. Obviously, White obtains the superior game if his own Knight occupies KB5. But if 15... PxK would follow thus: 16 P-Q4, etc. If 16... P-KKt4; BxP, PxB; 18 QxPch, K-R1; 19 PxP, KRK1; 20 R-R5, with su- perior prospects for White, 15 B-Kt3? seas 15 P-Q4 should have been played. After 15... KtB5 (QR-Q1; 16 P- Q5!) 16 PxP, PxP; 17 Kt-Q4, KR- Ql; 18 QK3, PxKt; 19 QxKt, P- KKt4; 20 BxP, etc, ' White attains an advantageous attack. But if 15... P-KKt4; 16 B-Kt3, Kt-B5; then White continues 17 BxKt, KtPxB (KPxB; 18 P-K5!) 18 P- Kt3, KtR4; 19 Q-K2 with advan- tage. 15 KtR4 16 see Now this move is inconsequent. 16.... Kt(K3)-B5 47 BxKt KtxB 18 P-Kt3 KEK Black has indeed been compelled to vacate the excellent square of the Knight; but the “Moor has performed his duty:” The posi- tion of the White King has been weakened (by P-Kt3) and attack by P-KB4 is threatened. 19 Q-Q3 QK3 20 Kt-Q2 P-KB4 21 P-Q5 Q.Q2 22 PxP. RxP 23 Kt-K4 wee ‘The position of the Knight offers some compensation for the op- ponent’s possession of the KB file. In spite of this Black obtains the initiative, for the weakening 1314 RUBINSTEIN’S CHESS MASTERPIECES P-KKt3 cramps White's style ap preciably. 23.... QR-KB1 24 R-K3 ee Preparing for P-KB3 in order to guard against the incidental at- tack R-R4 followed by Q-R6 24... Kt-K2! Rubinstein Janowski Now the Knight threatens to enter decisively into the attack by KtB4 as circumstances may re- quire: his task is also to render innocuous the counter-thrust P- QB4-B5, as well as to dislodge his colleague on K4, - the best posted White piece. 25 R-Q1 nee The Pawn at Q5 must be pro- tected in order to increase the mobility of the White Queen; but 25 P-QB4 would have been a de- cisive mistake for: 25... R-R4; 26 Q-Bl, (or 26 P-B3, Kt-B4; 27 KRK1, Kt-Q5; followed by Q-R6 and wins) Kt-B4; 27 R-QB3, Kt- Q5; 28 P-B3, KR-B4; 29 Kt-Q2, KtxPeh; 30 RxKt, RxR; 31 KtxR, P-K5; etc. should win. 2... K-R1 Now White could adequately de- fend himself against 25... R-R4, etc. by 26 P-KB3 or Q-Bi, as the Black Kt cannot gain access to Q5. 26 P.QB4 Kt-Kt1! If 26... R-R4 White can pre- vent the entrance of the Knight into Q5, thus: 27 Q-B1!, Kt-B4; 28 R-KB3, followed by 29 P-QB3. 27 P-KB3 wee P-QB4 would only add to the force of Black’s next move. 27. . Kt-B3 28 R-KB1 KtxKt, 29 QxKt see Apparently White has overcome the perils of the mid-game. What can now happen to him in a posi- tion as simple as this? To this question the next two moves of Rubinstein offer a menacing ans- wer. 2.... Q-Qi!! A very strong and subtle move. Rubinstein recognizes that the Q ean force entry only from the other wing. 30 QKKt4 see Comprehensibly he does not de- sire to permit Q-Kt4. A better defense was offered by 30 R-Q3 in order to answer Q-Kt4 by 31 Q-K3, which also threatens Q-R7 in some variations. 30.2.4 Q-QKtl! Quite overwhelming! The Queen now takes up a strong position on the Queen’s wing. 31 K-Kt2 Q-R2 32 R(B1)-K1 B+ 33 Q-K4 Q-QKts 34 R(K)-K2 aie Better to retain this Rook on the first rank. Bowe. R(B4)-B3 KARLSBAD, 1907 15 35 Q-Q3 K-Ktt 36 Q.QB3 P.QR4! Exploiting the cramped position of the White Rooks: for after the exchange of Queens, R-QR1 can- not be readily played. 37 QxQ PxQ 38 P-QB3 PxP 39 RxP alse Actually 39 R-R2, P-B7; 40 RxP, R-Ri would have led to the same position. oo R-R1 Rubinstein Janowski 40 K-R3? see The sole counter-play lay in: 40 P-QB5 e. g. a) 40... RR4; 41 P-QKt4, R- R5; (RKt4; 42 R-B4,) 42 P-Kt5! with the threat 43 P-Kt6, BPxP; 44 P-B6! b) 40... R-R6; 41 PxP, PxP; 42 P-KB4, PxP; 43 PxP, RxP; 44 R-K7, R-Rich; [44 .. . R-B2?] 45 R-B8ch, R-B1l; 46 R(B8)-B7),—45 K-Kt8, R(B5)-B7; 46 R(B3)-B7, R- Kt7ch; 47 K-B3, R(R7)-Bich; 48 K-K3, R-K7ch; 49 K-Q3, RxR; 50 RxR, RxP; 51 RxQKtP, with the threat of R-Q7, etc, Weaker than 40 P-B5 would have been the preparatory move of 40 P-QKt4 because of R-R8; 41 R-Kt2 (41 P-B5, R-Q8!) R-Q8 and K-B1 (42 P-B5, K-K2; 43 PxP, KxP.) with advantage for Black. 40.... P-QKt3 Now P-QB5 would require longer preparation. Black gains time to strengthen his position decisively. 41 K-Kt4 wees The quiet retreat K-Kt2 would be relatively better. 412... 42 R-QKt2 Now he is on the right track, but it is much too late. 44 R(Kt2)-Kt3 If P-B5, R-Q8; 45 PxKtP, PxP. 46 R-B6, P-Kt4; followed by RxQ’ 44.... R-B4 With the idea of R-KRS followed by R-Kt4ch and R-R4ch or R-Q8 followed by R-Q5ch and R-R4ch, then R-Q7ch. 45 R(B3)-B2 R-KR8& 46 P-B4 sees ‘There was no adequate defense: the King gets into a mating net, and at least a Pawn must be lost. 46.... PxP 47 PxP P-R4ch 48 K-Kt3 R-Kt8ch 49 K-B2 R-Kt5. 50 R-KB3 R(Kt5)xP_ 51 RxR RxRch 52 K-K3 K-B4 53 K-Q3 R-B6éch 54 K-Q4 R-QKt6 55 R-B2ch K-Kts, 56 R-Kt2ch K-R3 57 P-KtS R-KB6 After 57 P-Kt5 the Pawn posi- tion on the Queen's side has lost all aggressive possibilities, and Black can now devote himself16 RUBINSTEIN’S CHESS MASTERPIECES quietly to the exploitation of his Pawn plus. 58 K-K4 RBS 59 R-R2 P.Kt4 60 R-R7 R-B5ch 61 K.a3 R-B2 62 P-B5 sane Desperation! 62.... QpxP 63 P-a6 R.Q2! Now it becomes apparent how important it was to force the White King on the Queen file by 60 ...R-BSch. 64 RxP RxPch 65 K-K4 R-Q5ch Much stronger than the worri- some defense of the Knight Pawn by R-KKt3, ete, 66 K-BS P.R5 67 R-BS wae Or 67 R-Béch, K-R4; 68 RxP, R-Bich followed by R-B7 with an easy win. 67... R-B5ch 68 K-KS P.BS 69 R-R8ch K-Kt2, 70 R-QBB K.Kt3 71 R-Ktch K-R4 72 P-R3 P.B6 73 R-R&ch K.Kt3 74 R-Kt8ch K-R3 75 R-R8ch K.Kt2 76 R-QBS R-B6 77 R-B6 RxP 78 RxP R-KB6 Resigns. Game No. 2 FOUR KNIGHTS GAME Karlsbad, 1907 Duras Rubinstein 1 P-K4 P.K4 2 Kt-KB3 Kt-QB3 3 Kt-B3 KtB3 4 B-KtS B-KtS. 5 0.0 0-0 6 P.Q3 BxKt 7 PxB P.Q3 8 B-Kts QK2 9 R-KI nee In the previous game White Played 9 Q-Q2, attaining an ex- cellent position, 9.... KtaQi 10 P.Q4 Kt-K3 11 B.QBI P.QB3 12 B.B1 see The Bishop’s moves lead to an attacking continuation that origi- nated with Teichmann. From the viewpoint of development, not much is lost as Black, too, must regroup his pieces. 12.... Q-B2 13 Kt-R4 R-K1 Four years later against Spiel- mann in Karlsbad, Rubinstein played 13... R-Qi with disastrous results. 14 Q.Q3 sees This square should be left open for the Bishop. The proper con- tinuation was P-Kt3 followed by P-KB4 and Q-B3. 14..., B-Q2 15 P-Kt3 QR-Q1 16 B-Kt2 + Here the Bishop has no offensive power. 16.... B-B1 17 P-KB4 bene Now that Black is fully develop- ed, this attack is less effective. 7... PxBP 18 PxP Kt-B1 19 P-BS sees A more aggressive continuation would be 19 P-QB4, for in that event, if 19 . . . Kt-Kt3 (not 20 Q-KKt3, for KtxKt; 21 QxKt, P- Q4; 22 P-K5, Kt-K5!; 23 BxKt, KARLSBAD, 1907 17 PxB; 24 RxP, B-B4; etc. or if 23 RxKt, PxR; 24 BxP, P-KB4!) 20 KtxKt, RPxKt; 21 P-Q5! (21 B- Kt2, P-Q4! followed by B-B4 gain- ing the important square K5) fol- lowed after adequate preparation by posting the Queen's Bishop on the long diagonal. 19 20 B-B4 is not possible because of Kt-R4. But if the White queen were on B3 and the Bishop on Q3, 20 B-B4 could be played with an excellent game. This is exemplified by the Spielmann-Rubinstein game above referred to. P-KR3 20.... Kt(B)-R2 21 Kt-KB3 R-K2 22 P-KR4 P.QB4 Threatening P-QB5, which would be decisive as the Pawn at K4 would fall, 23 Kt-R2 R(Q)-K1 24 R-K3 : P-QB5 was still threatened. 24 . P-QKt3 25 B-B3 B-Kt2 Again threatening P-QB5. Rubinstein 26 QR-K1? see An error, which leads to speedy collapse. White’s position was not indeed anything to brag about, but after 26 P-Q5, he could still’ put up_a fight. If 26... P-QBS 27 Q-Q4 should be played. For 27 Q-K2 would lead to a loss, after 27 .. . Q-B4, with the double threat 28... KtxKP and KtxQP. Duras was always notoriously weak in games which require positional manoeuvring against Rubinstein. Such situations between masters of nearly equal strength are not uncommon in the records of chess. Medical psychology terms them “complexes.” Bogoljubow, in fact, included a whole country in his weakness. He once said: “I can’t play well in England:” and the facts so demonstrate! 2.... P.QB5 Clinching the game. 27 QK2 BxKP 28 Q-Kt2 P.Q4 Not 28... BxP; 29 RxR, RxR; 30 RxR, QxR; 31 BxRP, Q-K8ch; 32 KtBi. 29 B-BI BxB 30 KtxB RxR 31 BxR White is lost: but RxR would have afforded a longer defense. 31.06. R-KS 32 Q-R3 R-KtSch 33 K-R1 R-Kt6 34 Q.R2 Kt-Kts 35 B-Ktt KtxQ 36 BxKt QBS 37 Kt-Ktt QxP Resigns Game No, 3 GIUOCO PIANO Karlsbad, 1907 Salwe Rubinstein 1 P.K4 P.K4 2 Kt-KB3 Kt-QB3 3 B-B4 B-B4 4 Kt-QB3 Kt-B3