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Annotated Games
Lasker v. Steinitz [Click here to view the "Annotated_Games" PGN file in Chess Tutor, an interactive chess board.] [Or download the PGN file to use in your own chess program.] 1.d4 d5
Showalter: The sacrifice of the castling privilege is of little moment in this opening, generally speaking, while in the present instance the position of the king in the center even proves of great advantage to White in the later stages of the game. The newly crowned king of chess evidently approves of the Steinitzian maxim that "the king is also a fighting piece." It is significant that the overthrow of the apostle of the "modern school" was accomplished by that disciple who has shown in his play the keenest appreciation of "modern school" principles and who has adhered to those principles with more tenacious consistency than any other master who has yet appeared, not even excepting the great founder of that "school" himself. 9. ..... Nc6 Lasker: With the one exception of White leaving his king in the center, the opening is played up to the tenth move on conservative and well-known lines, resulting in an even position. 11.b4 Bb6 Showalter: Probably reserving the square at e7 for the retreat of the knight. 12.Ke2 Bd7
14. ..... a5 Showalter: Creating subsequent difficulties. 14...Rfd8 looks much better and more consistent. 15.b5 Ne7 Lasker: On his fifteenth move, Black, as the sequel shows, made a premature move, and got into a rather difficult game; for instance, if he had played 15...Kh8 16.Na4 Bc7 17.Nc5 with a decided advantage. [Chessville wonders why White wouldn't respond to 15...Kh8 with 16.bxc6. It seems to be beyond ours or Fritz's ability to comprehend. We welcome your ideas, just write to the Editor.] 16.Ne5 Be8 Showalter: For now this bishop, which Black is loath to give up for the opposing knight, temporarily blocks the development of the f-rook. 17.a4 Showalter: Black threatens now to win the pawn by ...Ned5, etc.. 17. ..... Bc7
19.Rac1 Lasker: Of course, when I had to consider my nineteenth move, I did not proceed with 19.b6 Bd8 20.Nxa5 Bxb6 21.Nxb7 Rb8 22.Nd6 Bxe3 recovering his material. Showalter: If 19.b6 Bd8 20.Nd6 ( or 20.Nxa5 Bxb6 and Black presently gets an advantage.) 20...Rc6 winning the pawn at least. 19. ..... Ned5 Showalter: Which turns out badly. 19...Rfd8 is now out of the question, however, on account of 20.b6 etc.; We believe that the proper course was 19...b6. 20.Nxd5 Nxd5 Showalter: The only alternative was 21...Nf6 and that seems to give Black a bad game by 22.Nxd7 Nxd7 23.Rhd1 (or 23.Rc2) ; 21...Be8 loses at once by 22.Bxd5 (or by 22.Ba3 Nb4 23.b6) 22...exd5 23.Ba3 etc.; while 21...Rfd8 is bad on account of 22.Nxd7 Rxd7 23.Bxd5 Rxd5 (or 23...exd5 24.b6) 24.b6 22.Bxe5 f6
23. ..... fxe5 Lasker: Black's twenty-third move was forced; if, for instance 23...Ne7 24.Bc7 Ra8 25.Bd6 followed by 26.Rc7. Showalter: This is certainly bad, but Black's game is already somewhat compromised. His best chance, however, was certainly 23...Ne7 If, then 24.Bd6 Black seems to come off with an even game by either 24...Kf7 (or 24...Rxc1 25.Rxc1 Rc8 etc.) ; and if 23...Ne7 24.Bc3 Ra8 (not 24...b6 25.Rhd1 to which there is no defense, as the bishop cannot be supported by either rook without the loss of a piece) 25.Rhd1 Bc8 and though Black has the inferior position he may yet hope to draw. Of course all other moves with the knight are weak and lose at least a pawn. 24.exd5 Kf7 Lasker: On his 24th turn Black played the best possible variation, for, if 24...Rxc1 25.Rxc1 Re8 26.dxe6 Bxe6 27.Rc8 and wins the exchange. 25.Rhd1
25. ..... Ke7 Showalter: He should now have played 25...Rxc1 by all means. The next move increases his difficulties most seriously. Lasker: Many people thought that Steinitz could have proceeded on his twenty-fifth turn with 25...Rxc1 then the following variation would have been the result: 26.Rxc1 Rc8 27.dxe6+ Ke7 28.Rxc8 Bxc8 29.Ke3 Bxe6 30.Bxe6 Kxe6 31.Ke4 and White would have probably won. For instance, let us continue 31...b6 32.h4 g6 33.h5 Kd6 34.hxg6 hxg6 35.g4 Ke6 36.f3 Kd6 37.f4 exf4 38.Kxf4 Ke6 39.Kg5 Kf7 40.Kh6 Kf6 41.Kh7 Kg5 42.Kg7 Kxg4 43.Kxg6 Kf4 44.Kf6 Ke4 45.Ke6 Kd4 46.Kd6 Kc4 47.Kc6 Kb4 48.Kxb6 Kxa4 49.Kc5 and wins. 26.d6+ Kf6 Showalter: Again bad. The position is peculiar and simplification aids White materially. Black's only hope to draw was in keeping the rooks on the board, or at least one of them. 28.Rxc1 Rc8
The game was adjourned here, with Lasker sealing 30.Bc2 Showalter: A beautiful move, against which Black has no defense. 30. ..... Kf7 Lasker: My opinion is that at his thirtieth move Steinitz's best play was 30...e4 but should lose after 31.Bxe4 e5 32.d7 etc.. Showalter: If 30...h6 31.Be4 Kf7 (or 31...g5 32.g4; or 31...h5 32.h4) 32.Bf3 Kf6 33.Kd3 Kf7 (33...Kf5 34.Bxb7 and wins.; or if 33...b6 34.Bc6 and wins.) 34.h4 Kf6 35.Kc4 Kf7 36.Kc5 Ke8 37.Kb6 Kd7 38.Bxb7 and wins. 31.Bxh7 b6 Lasker: If 31...g6 32.Ke4 Kg7 33.Kxe5 Kxh7 34.Kf6 e5 35.Ke7 and wins. Showalter: 31...g6 32.Ke4 and Black dare not win the bishop, as the white king meanwhile marches to d8 and wins the other bishop and the game. 32.Ke4 Showalter: Here White, who has played with consummate skill throughout, misses his shortest course to victory, viz. 32.Be4 Ke8 (forced) 33.Bc6+ Kd8 (or 33...Bd7 34.Ke4) 34.Ke4 etc.. 32. ..... Kf6 Lasker: About Black's thirty-second move, little can be said. The remaining moves are not of special interest, as White's superior forces must win. 33.g4 g5
Final Position, 1-0 |
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