Chess Fundamentals Part 21

1. P - Q 4 P - Q 4 2. Kt - K B 3 P - Q B 4 3. P - B 4 P - K 3 4. P Q P K P P 5. Kt - B 3 Kt -Q B 3 6. P - K Kt 3 B - K 3

Kt - B 3 is the normal move in this variation. White's development was first introduced by Schlechter and elaborated later on by Rubinstein. It aims at the isolation of Black's Q P, against which the White pieces are gradually concentrated. In making the text move I was trying to avoid the beaten track. Being a developing move there should be no objection to it in the way of general principles, except that the Knights ought to come out before the Bishops.

7. B - Kt 2 B - K 2 8. O - O R - B 1

In pursuance of the idea of changing the normal {164} course of this variation, but with very poor success. The move in theory ought to be unsound, since Black's K Kt is yet undeveloped. I had not yet learned of the attack founded on Kt - Kt 5 and the exchange of the B at K 3. Either Kt - B 3 or P - K R 3; to prevent either B or Kt - K Kt 5, was right.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

9. P X P B P 10. Kt - K Kt 5 Kt - B 3 11. Kt B P Kt 12. B - R 3 Q - K 2 13. B - Kt 5 O - O

This is a mistake. The right move was R - Q 1 in order to get the Rook away from the line of the Bishop at R 3 and at the same time to support the Q P.

Incidentally it shows that White failed to take proper advantage of Black's weak opening moves. Against the text move White makes a very fine combination {165} which I had seen, but which I thought could be defeated.

14. B Kt Q B

I considered P B, which it seemed would give me a playable game, but I thought White's combination unsound and therefore let him play it, to my lasting regret.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

15. Kt P ! Q - R 3

[Ill.u.s.tration] {166}

16. K - Kt 2 !

_This_ is the move which I had not considered. I thought that Rubinstein would have to play B - Kt 2, when I had in mind the following winning combination: 16 B - Kt 2, Kt - K 4 ! 17 Kt - B 4 (if R - B 1, Q R !!

Q Q, B P ch wins), Kt - Kt 5; 18 P - K R 3 (if Kt - R 3, B P ch wins the exchange), Kt P; 19 R Kt, B R ch; 20 K B, P - K Kt 4, and Black should win. It is curious that this combination has been overlooked. It has been taken for granted that I did not see the 17th move Q - B 1.

16. ........ Q R - Q 1

After White's last move there was nothing for me to do but submit to the inevitable.

17. Q - B 1 ! P Kt 18. Q B Q - Q 7 19. Q - Kt 5 Kt - Q 5 20. Q - Q 3 Q Q 21. P Q K R - K 1 22. B - Kt 4

This gives Black a chance. He should have played K R - K 1. If then Kt - B 7; R R ch, R R; R - Q B 1, R - K 7; K - B 1, Kt - Q 5 (if R - Q 7; B - K 6 ch, K - B 1; B P would win); R - B 8 ch, K - B 2; R - B 7 ch, R - K 2; R - B 5 wins. {167}

22. ........ R - Q 3 23. K R - K 1 R R 24. R R R - Q Kt 3 25. R - K 5 R P 26. R P Kt - B 3 27. B - K 6 ch K - B 1 28. R - B 5 ch K - K 1 29. B - B 7 ch K - Q 2 30. B - B 4

[Ill.u.s.tration]

30. ........ P - Q R 3

A bad move, which gives away any legitimate chance Black had to draw. It loses a very important move. In fact, as the course of the game will show, it loses several moves. The proper way was to play K - Q 3. If then R - Q Kt 5, R R; B R, Kt - Q 5; followed by P - Q Kt 4; and White would have an exceedingly difficult game to draw on account of the dominating position of the Knight at {168} Q 5 in conjunction with the extra p.a.w.n on the Queen's side and the awkward position of White's King. (See how this is so.)

31. R - B 7 ch K - Q 3 32. R K Kt P P - Kt 4 33. B - Kt 8 P - Q R 4 34. R P P - R 5 35. P - R 4 P - Kt 5 36. R - R 6 ch K - B 4 37. R - R 5 ch K - Kt 3 38. B - Q 5

With these last three moves White again gives Black a chance. Even before the last move B - B 4 would have won with comparative ease, but the text move is a downright blunder, of which, fortunately for him, Black does not avail himself.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

38. ........ P - Kt 6

R P would make it practically impossible for White to win, if he can win at all. White's best {169} continuation then would have been: 39 B - B 4, R - B 7; 40 R - Kt 5 ch, K - B 2; 41 B - Kt 8, P - R 6; 42 P - R 5, P - R 7; 43 B P, R B, and if there is a win it is very difficult to find it, as against 44 P - R 6, R - R 3 ! offers excellent chances for a draw.

39. P P P - R 6 40. B Kt R Kt P

If 40...P - R 7; 41 R - Kt 5 ch, K - R 3; 42 R - Kt 8.

41. B - Q 5 P - R 7 42. R - R 6 ch Resigns.

As an end game, this is rather a sad exhibition for two masters. The redeeming feature of the game is Rubinstein's fine combination in the middle game, beginning with 14 B Kt.

GAME 3. IRREGULAR DEFENCE

(Havana, 1913)

White: D. Janowski. Black: J. R. Capablanca.

1. P - Q 4 Kt - K B 3 2. Kt - K B 3 P - Q 3 3. B - Kt 5 Q Kt - Q 2 4. P - K 3 P - K 4 5. Kt - B 3 P - B 3 6. B - Q 3 B - K 2 7. Q - K 2 Q - R 4 8. O - O Kt - B 1 9. K R - Q 1 B - Kt 5

{170}

At last Black is on his way to obtain full development. The idea of this irregular opening is mainly to throw White on his own resources. At the time the game was played, the system of defence was not as well known as the regular forms of the Queen's p.a.w.n openings. Whether it is sound or not remains yet to be proved. Its good features are that it keeps the centre intact without creating any particular weakness, and that it gives plenty of opportunity for deep and concealed manoeuvring. The drawback is the long time it takes Black to develop his game. It is natural to suppose that White will employ that time to prepare a well-conceived attack, or that he will use the advantage of his development actually to prevent Black's complete development, or failing that, to obtain some definite material advantage.

10. P - K R 3 B - R 4 11. P P P P 12. Kt - K 4

[Ill.u.s.tration] {171}

12. ........ Kt Kt

A very serious mistake. I considered castling, which was the right move, but desisted because I was afraid that by playing 13 B Kt, P B; 14 Kt - Kt 3, B - Kt 3; 15 Kt - B 5, White would obtain a winning position for the end game. Whether right or wrong this shows how closely related are all parts of the game, and consequently how one will influence the other.

13. B B K B 14. B Kt B - Kt 3

Not good. The natural and proper move would have been Kt - K 3, in order to bring all the Black pieces into play. B Kt at once was also good, as it would have relieved the pressure against Black's King's p.a.w.n, and at the same time have simplified the game.

Here it is seen how failure to comply with the elementary logical reasons, that govern any given position, often brings the player into trouble. I was no doubt influenced in my choice of moves by the fear of B - B 5, which was a very threatening move.

15. Q - B 4 Kt - K 3 16. P - Q Kt 4 Q - B 2 17. B B R P B 18. Q - K 4 K - B 3

{172}

[Ill.u.s.tration]

19. R - Q 3