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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. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. Nc3 Lasker: The fourth move of White inaugurated not a mere transposition of the succession of moves, as were played in former games, but it left White with the additional advantage of playing Bc4 either before or after pawn to d4. 4... a6 Steinitz: Played by Chigorin vs. Steinitz in the match at Havana in '91, with the continuation 4... Bd7 5. d4 Nge7 6. Bg5 f6 7. Be3 5. Bc4 Steinitz: White could hardly exchange and 5.Ba4 would have cut him off from the kingside. Black has therefore evidently gained a move in the development as compared with similar positions. 5... Be6 Steinitz: Either this or 5...Be7 was now indispensable. 6. Bxe6
Lasker: The opening, after Black's fifth move, into well-known lines of the Philidor defense. It is doubtful whether the exchanging of bishops, or the retiring to b3, is preferable. 6... fxe6 7. d4 exd4 8. Nxd4 Nxd4 Steinitz: Too much simplification was the result of this exchange and 8...Qd7 was probably the best way to avoid this. 9. Qxd4 Ne7 10. Bg5 Nc6 Lasker: Black's tenth move was practically forced, as White threatened 11.Bxe7 with a very strong position. 11. Bxd8 Nxd4 12. O-O-O Nb5
Lasker: Black evidently overrated his attack when he offered the exchange of knights on the twelfth move. Steinitz: As the second player, Black should have been content with the slight advantage arising from doubling the pawns by 12...Nb3+, followed by 13...Rxd8. In trying to do more, he seriously compromises his position. Although he recovers the sacrificed pawn, his doubled b-pawns become the source of trouble. 13. Nxb5 axb5 14. Bxc7 Rxa2 Steinitz: The better plan was anyhow 14... Ra6 15. e5 d5 16. a3 Kd7 17. Bd6 Bxd6 18. exd6 Rf8 etc. 15. Bb6 Steinitz: Obviously he could not take the pawn on account of the check, and Black threatens ...Ra6. 15... Be7 Steinitz: Feeble as compared with 15...b4, which would have rendered White's game very difficult. 16. c3 Kf7
Lasker: Probably 16... Ra4 17. Rhe1 b4 was Steinitz's strongest line of play, as this was really his only chance to dissolve his doubled pawn during the whole game. After this omission White got a slight pull. Steinitz: A grave error of judgment to which the loss of the game may fairly be ascribed. 16...Kd7 followed soon by Kc6, would have brought the necessary support to the weak pawns on the queenside. If then 17. Bd4 (or 17. Bc5 Kc6 18. Ba3 Ra1+ 19. Kc2 Rxd1) 17... Rf8 with at least an even game. 17. Kc2 Rha8 18. Kb3 R2a4 19. f3 R8a6 Steinitz: Only driving the bishop to a better square. Much superior was 19...g5 either on this or the next move. 20. Bd4 g6 21. Rd3 Ke8 22. Rhd1 e5
Lasker: On account of the weakness of his d-pawn Black seemed compelled to push his e-pawn on his twenty-second turn. Steinitz: Black overlooked the force of White's twenty-fourth move. 22...g5 was, under any circumstances, much better. 23. Be3 Kd7 24. Bc5
Steinitz: A beautiful key move to splendid ending play in a series of fine moves carried through by White in a style that can hardly be improved upon. 24... Ra1 25. R1d2 Ke6 26. Ba3 Lasker: Now on my twenty-sixth move I might have avoided many complications by advancing 26.h3, although 26... h5 would have been a very strong rejoinder on the part of Black. 26... g5 27. Rd5 Rb6 28. Kb4 g4 29. Ka5 Steinitz: All in grand style. Black will gain nothing now by 29...Bd8, as White seems to answer 30.Rxb5. 29... Ra6+ 30. Kxb5 Lasker: In actual play I had to make a very tedious maneuver in order to win the b-pawn. While I was thus engaged in my scheme Black initiated a strong attack upon my king's flank in a truly marvelous manner and I had to give my entire attention to it, although I had a decisive superiority of pawns. 30... h5
Steinitz: Lasker himself was of the opinion that 30...Rh1 gave Black drawing chances. After the text move there appears to be no hope and Lasker plays the ending with his accustomed accuracy. Lasker: On Steinitz's thirtieth move he might have continued 30... Rh1 31. fxg4 Re1 32. h3 Rxe4 33. c4 but he evidently thought that in this variation White's kingside pawns would prove to be too dangerous. 31. Rd1 Rxd1 32. Rxd1 gxf3 33. gxf3 Ra8 34. Kb6 Rg8 35. Kxb7 Lasker: Had I, at my thirty-fifth move, continued with 35. Rd2 then my opponent would have replied with 35... Rg7 thus saving his b-pawn, and he would have threatened to push his h-pawn, which, in some variations, would have given him even a chance to win. 35... Rg2 36. h4 Rh2 37. Kc6 Bxh4 38. Rxd6+ Kf7 39. Kd5 Lasker: My thirty-ninth move was probably forced, as Black's h-pawn could advance, for if 39. Rh6 Bg5 40. Rh8 Kg7 41. Re8 Bf4 42. Bd6 Kf7 43. Rh8 Kg7 44. Re8 Kf7 45. Re7+ Kf6 46. Rh7 Kg6 and it is very doubtful, indeed, whether White could win. 39... Bf6 Lasker: Black could have won my bishop by 39... Rd2+ 40. Kxe5 Rxd6 41. Bxd6 Bg3+ 42. f4 h4 43. Bc5 h3 44. Bg1 h2 but my pawns would have won. 40. Rd7+ Kg6 41. Ke6 h4 42. Rd1 h3 43. Rg1+ Rg2 44. Rxg2+ hxg2 45. Bc5 Bd8 46. b4 Kg5 47. Kd7 Bf6 48. b5 Kf4 49. b6 Black resigns. 1-0
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