Chess News for Week ending June 18

[Jack Rabbit]

The Jack Rabbit Chess Report



for the week ending June 18

Contents:

Thread 1: Chess News for the last week
Thread 2: Games by Medalists in Torino
Thread 3: Other Games from Recent Events
Thread 4: A game from a not-so-recent Event


Graphic from Julia Beyer (Germany)

[Jack Rabbit]

1. News

Las Vegas Masters' Tournament

The Masters' Tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada ended in a three-way tie for first place among German grandmaster Leonid Kritz, French grandmaster Robert Fontaine and Serbian grandmaster Dejan Antic.

Each of the first place finishers scored 6½ points out of 9. Isreali grandmaster Victor Mikhalevski, fresh from his win over Russia's Evgeny Bareev in the last round of the Torino Olympiad, finished in fourth place wiht 6 points.

International Master Thomas Roussel-Roozmon of Canada, 18, barely missed making a grander norm when he lost to Kritz in the final round. Roussel-Roozmon needed a win to make the norm and declined a tacit invitation for a draw by repetition early in the game.

US National Master John Bartolomew of Minnesota finished with 5½ points, good enough for his third IM norm. As soon as this is confirmed, Bartholomew will be granted the the title International Master.

Robert Hess of New York won his second IM norm with 4½ points. He needs one more to win the title of International Master.

There were 36 players participating of various rankings from ten different nations in the tournament. Two rounds a day were played for four days and the final round on the morning of the fifth day.

Grandmaster Tournament Begins in Foros, Ukraine

An international tournament of 12 grandmasters all rated over 2600 began yesterday in the Ukrainian resort of Foros on the Crimean peninsula.

Participating in the tournament are from Ukraine: Ruslan Ponomariov, Vassily Ivanchuk, Sergey Karjakin, Andrei Volokitin and Alexander Areshchenko; from Russia: Alexander Grischuk and Sergei Rublevsky; and Alexei Shirov from Spain (originally from Latvia), Shakhriyar Mamedyarov from Azerbaijan, Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu from Romania, Pentala Harikrishna from India and Viktor Bologan from Moldovia.

In the first round on Saturday, Volokitin with White defeated Ponomariov; Bologan with White won over Karjakin; and Mamedyarov with Black bested Rublevsky. All other games ended in draws.

The tournament is a single-round robin event of 11 rounds. The final game will be played on Wednesday, June 28.

Dutch National Championship Starts in Hilversum

The Dutch National Championship began yesterday in Hilversum.

Twelve Dutch players are competing: Ivan Sokolov (originally from Russia), Loek van Wely, John van der Wiel, Yge Visser, Erwin L'Ami, Daniel Stellwagen, Sergei Tiviakov (orignianlly Russian), Jan Werle, Jeroen Bosch, Friso Nijboer, Jan Smeets and Jan Timman.

Van Wely has won the Dutch Championship six years in a row and has won the title more often than any other person except the former world champion, the late Dr. Max Euwe.

In first round action on Saturday, Sokolov (White) defeated Smeets; van der Wiel (White) beat Nijboer; Visser (White) upset Timman; and van Wely (Black) won his game with Bosch. The other games ended in draws.

The championship tournament will be played through July 2.

[Jack Rabbit]

2. Games by Olympic Medalists

Wang Yue

Wang Yue (China) vs. Thomas Likavsky (Slovakia)
Chess Olympiad, Round 3/Board 4
Torino, May 2006

King's English Game

1. d4 d6 2. c4 e5 3. Nc3

The move order give Black a more favorable English Game than 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 d6 when White could reply 3. Nf3 and avoid the recapture with the ticklish Queen.

3. -- exd4 4. Qxd4 Nf6 5. b3 Nc6 6. Qd2

The move order has forced White to invest a tempo in retreating his Queen.

6. -- Be6 7. e4 Nxe4 8. Nxe4 d5 9. cxd5 Bb4?

Black allows White's last move to turn into a fork trick. He emerges from the exchanges with a serious material deficit that spells his doom. Better was 9. -- Bxd4.

10. Nc3 Qf6 11. Bb2 O-O-O 12. O-O-O Rxd5 13. Nxd5 Bxd2+ 14. Rxd2

The players have descended into an endgame after only 14 moves. White has given up his Queen and a Pawn for a Rook and two minor pieces: a very good bargain.

14. -- Qf5 15. Ne3 Qa5 16. Nf3 Rd8?!

The rule of thumb is to exchanges Pawns when one is fighting for a draw and pieces when one wants a win. This exchange can only suit White.

17. Rxd8+ Kxd8 18. Kb1 Nb4 19. a3 Nd5 20. Nc4 Qa6

In spite of the open nature of the position, the Queen is offsided for the remainder of the game.

21. Nd4 Bc8 22. Bd3 Nf4 23. Be4 c5 24. Nf5 Bxf5 25. Bxf5 Nxg2

Since Black's game is lost, this really is not a blunder. After this, everything is forced.

26. Rd1+!

Skewering the Pawn with 26. Rg1 would only net a Pawn. The text nets the King.

26. -- Ke8 27. Rd7 Nf4

Tantamount to resignation. There is no good defense.

28. Nd6+ Kf8 29. Rxf7+ 1-0

White mows down the Pawns and then gives mate: 29. -- Kg8 30. Rxg7+ Kh8 (or Kf8 31. Rf7+ Kg8 32. Bxh7#) 31. Rxh7+ Kg8 32.Rh8#.



David Navara

David Navara (Czech Republic) vs. Zdenko Kozul (Croatia)
Chess Olympiad, Round 5/Board 1
Torino, May 2006

Open Sicilian Game: Scheveningen Four Knights' Opening (Rauzer Variation)

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8. O-O-O Bd7

A favorite move for Kozul over the years, with which he has had a great deal of success. Black protects the Knight while preparing the -- b5 thrust. The main line is 8. -- h6 9. Be3 Be7 10. f4 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 b5.

9. f4 b5 10. Bxf6 gxf6

Black rejects 10. -- Qxf6 11. e5! dxd5 12. Ndxb5 with an attack on the Bishop at d7.

11. Kb1 Qb6 12. Nxc6 Bxc6 13. Qe1

This is considered White's best. Against Kozul in the Europenan Individual Championships (Kasidusi, April 2006), Sergey Erenburg played 13. f5, but Black got the better of it and eventually won after 13. -- Qc5 14. Bd3 b4 15. Ne2 e5. Two rounds later at Kusadasi, Dmitry Svetushkin also played 13. f5, and Kozul varied with h5 14. fxe6 fxe6 15. Qf4 Qc5 16. Qxf6 Rh6 17. Qd4 Qxd4 18. Rxd4 Ke7, and Black went on to win that game, too. Shirov against Kozul played 13. Qe3, but wasn't able to get much after 13. -- Rb8 14. Kb1 b4 15. Ne2 Qb6 16. Qh3 h4 17. Bc4 Qc5 18. Qd3 a5, although White won in 73 moves.

13. -- Ra7

Adams-Kozul (Belgrade 1999) continued 13. -- Be7 14. Bd3 a5 15. f5 and White eventually won. However, against Berescu (Djakovo Open, May 2005), Kozul played 13. -- o-o-o and the game contuneud 14. Bd3 b4 15. Ne2 d5 16. e5 f5 17. Nd4 Bb7 18. Be2 Bc5 19. Qd2 Rhg8 with Black winning the game in 51 moves.

14. Bd3 h5

In round 9 aganst Tiviakov (Holland), Kozul played 14. -- Qc5 and got some play on the Queenside after 15. Qh4 Be7 16. f5 e5 17. Qh6 b4 18. Ne2 a5. The game ended in a draw after 37 moves.

15. Qh4 Bg7 16. Rhe1 Kf8

Kotronias-Kozul (European Team Championships, Leon, November 2001), continued 16. -- Qc5 17. f5 e5 18. Rf3 Rc7 19. Rg3 Kf8 20. a3 a5 21. Ne2 b4 22. axb4 axb4, with Black obtaining a fine attack and winning.

17. f5 b4 18. Ne2 e5 19. Ng3 Qf2

Black's successes in this variation have generally fetured a set up on the Queenside used to launch an attack by pushing the a- and b-Pawns and manuvering the Queen into White's camp. Here, the immediate 19. -- Qc5 wouldn't have made much difference. Both sides have chances.

20. Rf1 Qc5 21. Nxh5

White's successes have usually featured a Kingside attack such as this one.

21. -- d5 22. exd5 Bxd5 23. Qg4 Rh7

23. -- Qa5, threatening mate on a2, fails to the active defense 24. Bc4!, for example, 24. -- Bxc4 Qxc4 25. Ke7 Nxg7.

24. Rfe1 a5 25. Be4 Bxe4 26. Rxe4 Rc7 27. Re2 Ke7?

Black has played well up to here. This move loses. Black would hold on to the game after 27. -- Qc4 28. Qxc4 Rxc4 29. Rd8+ Ke7 30. Rg8.

28. Nxg7

The piece cannot be regained.

28. -- Qc4 29. Rxe5+!!

White rounds off the game with some fireworks. Black was apparently expecting 29. Qxc4 Rxg7.

29. -- fxe5 30. f6+ Kxf6 31. Qf5+ 1-0

If Black plays 31. Kxg7, then 32. Qg5+ K moves 33. Rd8 is checkmate. Kozul resigns.



Tatiana Kosintseva

Emilia Djingarova (Bulgaria) vs. Tatiana Kosintseva (Russia)
Chess Olympiad, Round 10/Board 2
Torino, May 2006

Spanish Sicilian Game: Moscow Defense

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6

The Moscow Defense is generally any Spanish Sicilian Game in which Black plays an early -- d6, usuaully on the second move. Since this position can be reached by the moves 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 Bb4+ Nc6, it is so classified. The other main branch of the Spanish Sicilian is the Rossolimo Defense, which is reached by 1 e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb4 and Black plays some move other than 3. -- d6.

4. Bxc6+ bxc6

The game develops a Spanish flavor, as do other variations, for example: 4. o-o Bd7 5. Re1 Nf6 6. c3 a6 7. Bxc6 Bxc6 8. d4 Bxe4.

5. O-O e5 6. c3 Nf6 7. Re1 Bg4 8. h3 Bh5 9. d4 cxd4 10. cxd4 Nd7 11. Be3 Be7 12. Nbd2

Compare this position to a main line Spanish Game (Ruy Lopez).

12. -- exd4 13. Bxd4 O-O 14. Nc4 Nb6 15. Ne3 Bg6 16. Bc3 Re8

Obviously not 16. -- Bxe4?? allowing White to win with 17. Qd4!.

17. Ng4 Bf8 18. e5 d5 19. b4 a5 20. a3 Nc4 21. Qd4 Qb6!

The exchange of Queens is the best defensive resource available for Black. White must not be permitted to play e6 threatening mate at g7.

22. Qxb6 Nxb6 23. Nd4 Na4 24. Bd2 c5 25. bxc5 Nxc5 26. Nb5 Nb3 27. Ra2 Rab8 28. Nc7?

The Knight goes too far field. The better move is 28. a4.

28. -- Rec8 29. Nxd5

The taking of the Pawn appears very careless, but there was little better.

29. -- Rd8 30. Nge3 Be4!

Black wins a piece as a result of the Knight's errant wanderings.

31. Nc3 Rxd2 32. Rxd2 Nxd2 33. Rd1 Rc8 34. Nb5

To have any chance at salvaging a half point, White must keep her pieces on the board and try to snap up as many of Black's Pawns as possible.

34. -- Nb3 35. Nd6?!

This is not at all what White wants.

35. -- Bxd6 36. exd6 Rd8 37. f3 Bc6

Black uses her extra piece to stop the passed Pawn, but she must be careful not to have to sacrifice it in the process.

38. Nc4 f6 39. Kf2 a4 40. Nb6 Kf7 41. Nc4 Bb5 42. Ne3 Ke6 43. Re1 Kxd6

Losing a Pawn is not in White's best interests, either.

44. Nf5+ Kc5 45. Nxg7

Finally, White wins a Black Pawn. However, it is too little, too late.

45. -- Rd2+ 46. Kg3 Nd4 47. Nh5 f5 48. Nf6 h6 49. Ng8 h5 50. Nf6 h4+ 51. Kxh4 Rxg2!

White's King is now stuck in front of her remaining Pawn so that it cannot advance.

52. Re5+ Kc4 53. Kh5 Bc6 54. h4 Bxf3+

Now Black has simply lost a Pawn.

55. Kh6 Bd1 56. Nd5 Re2 57. Rxe2 Bxe2 58. 0-1

Black remains a piece ahead and will be able to promote one of her remaining Pawns; neither of White's Pawns are going anywhere.

Wang Yue from http://www.chessbase.de/nachrichten.asp?newsid=4242">ChessBase.de
David Navara from ChessBase.de
Tatiana Kosintseva from ChessBase.com

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Other Games from Recent Events

Alexander Areshchenko

Alexander Areschenko vs. Jacek Stopa
Open Tournament/Round 1
San Marino, June 2006

Open Sicilian Game: Sveshnikov Defense

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5

This is the heavily theoretical Sveshnikov Defense, named for Evgeny Sveshnikov (1950- ), a Soviet-Russian grandmaster still active in international competition. Sveshnikov revised the theory of an old Sicilian variation, which had previous been known as the Pelikan Defense. A razor-sharp tactical opening, it is no surprise that its leading adherants have included Garry Kasparov, Judit Polgar and Alexei Shirov, but it has been an even greater part of the repatoires of master strategists Vladimir Kramnik, the classical World Champion, and Peter Leko.

6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3

One of the points of the Sveshnikov is to drive White's Knight offside.

8. -- b5 9. Bxf6

An alternative is the immediate 9. Nd5, of which the main line is 9. -- Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 o-o 12. Nc2.

9. -- gxf6

This is the main line of the Sveshnikov variation chosen by White. Black accepts the doubled Pawn instead of losing time after 9. -- Qxf6 10. Nd5 Qd8 11. c3 Be7 12. Nc2, as compared to the usual main line (see next note).

10. Nd5 f5 11. g3!?

The main line is 11. c3 Bg7 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. Nc2.

11. -- Bg7 12. Bg2 fxe4 13. Bxe4 0-0?

Black continues to make the moves of the main line without considering how White has altered the situation. Better is 13. -- Be6 14. c3 (14. Ne3?! b4!) Bxd5 15. Bxd5 o-o.

14. Ne3 Qc7

This move is ineffective; however, if 14. -- Be6, then White continues with 15. Qh5 h6 16. g4 with a dangerous attack, much as in the actual game.

15. Qh5 h6 16. g4 Ra7 17. g5

White has drawn a mating net around Black's King. Obviously, 17. -- hxg5 is suicidal.

17. -- f5 18. gxf6 Rxf6

If 18. -- Bxf6, then White gives mate with 19. Qxg6+ Kg8 20. Qh7#.

19. Qe8+ Rf8 20. Qxc6 1-0

White has won a piece. Stopa resigns.



Attila Jakab

Attila Jakab vs. Lajos Seres
First Saturday International Tournament, Round 2
Budapest, June 2006

Staunton Gambit

1. d4 d6 2. c4 e5 3. d5 f5?!

Black adopts a Dutch Defense formation, allowing White to transpose the opening into a Staunton Gambit (1 d4 f5 2 e4). A better idea would be 3. -- Nf6, which would become a King's Indian Defense after 4. Nc3 g6 5. e4 Bg7.

4. e4 fxe4 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. Bg5 Bf5

Although the temporary effect of Black's development is to hang on to the extra Pawn, these are simply normal developing moves and the Pawn will be surrendered in the course of events.

7. Nge2 Be7 8. Ng3 Bg6 9. Bxf6

A normal move played with the idea of regaining the Pawn after 9. -- Bxf6 10. Ncxe4 Bxe4 11. Nxe4.

9. -- gxf6?

This move cuts the range of the King's Bishop. Better would be to retake with as in the previous note.

10. h4!

White takes advantage of Black's ninth move to launch a Kingside attack. The text is better than retaking the Pawn.

10. -- Qd7 11. f3 e3 12. h5 Bf5 13. Bd3 Bxd3 14. Qxd3 Rg8 15. Qxh7!!

The sacrifice of the Knight devastates White Kingside and clears the way for the final push of the h-Pawn.

15. -- Rxg3 16. Ne4 Rxg2 17. Kf1 f5 18. Kxg2 fxe4

White emerges from the complications with a clearly won position.

19. Qg6+ Kd8 20. h6 exf3+ 21. Kxf3 Qe8

The last gasp. Black hopes to shield his back rank from the coming onslaught, but there is nothing left.

22. Qxe8+ Kxe8 23. h7 1-0



John Bartholomew

John Bartholomew vs. Vishnuvardhan Arjun
Masters' Tournament, Round 1
Las Vegas, June 2006

Open Sicilian Game: Najdorf Defense (Rauzer Attack)

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5

Over the years, this has been the most popular reply to the Najdorf, although by no means the only one.

6. -- e6 7. f4 h6 8. Bh4 Be7 9. Qf3 Qc7 10. O-O-O Nbd7 11. Bd3 g5

It is very common in the Sicilian for one side or the other to sacrifice Pawns or even minor pieces for good squares. Black wants e5 for his Knight.

12. fxg5 Ne5 13. Qe2 Nfg4 14. Kb1 hxg5

Black now has the Pawn back with a Rook on the open h-file.

15. Bg3 Bd7 16. Rdf1 b5 17. Nf3 Rc8

One of Black's problems with the open h-file is that the King must remain in the center. The King would be too exposed on the Queen's wing to castle long. Moreover, control of the open c-file is in his interests.

18. h3 Nh6 19. Nxe5!

White strikes back and will focus on f7.

19. -- dxe5 20. Qh5 b4 21. Nd1 Bb5 22. Ne3 Bxd3 23. cxd3 Kd7

In spite of showing some initiative earlier, White's pieces seem terribly uncoordinated. This is the only way to unpin the Knight on h6 from the Rook. Nevertheless, 23. -- Qd7, with threats on the d-Pawn, looks like a better move; for example, a the line suggested by Fritz, 23. -- Qd7 24. Rd1 Bf6 25. Rhf1 Ng8 26. Qg4, but White still has an advantage.

24. Qe2 Bc5 25. Rc1 Qb8 26. Nc4 Bd4 27. Rhf1!

Black's position is now being set aflame.

27. -- Ke7 28. Qf3 f5 29. exf5 Nxf5 30. Rce1

White now targets the Pawn at e5.

30. -- Rc5 31. Bf2 Qa8 32. Qg4 Kf6 33. Bxd4 exd4 34. Qxd4+ 1-0

Black loses the Rook. Arjun resigns.

Robert Hess vs. Chandrashekhar Gokhale
Masters' Tournament, Round 8
Las Vegas, June 2006

Spanish Petit Royal Game: Neo-Classical Defense

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3

The alternative is 5. c3 intending to play d4.

5. -- Qe7

Black must protect the King's Pawn, but it seems better to do with 5. -- d6 and then developing the Queen's Bishop.

6. Nc3 h6 7. Be3 O-O 8. Nh4

White announces his intention of launching a Kingside attack.

8. -- Bxe3 9. fxe3 d6 10. Qf3 Qd8

The Queen is removes in anticapation of White's threat of 11. Nf5.

11. h3 a6?!

Black's counterplay on the Queen's wing is not sufficient to compensate for the coming attack. A better move is 11. -- Be6, which both keeps and eye on the central d5 square and assists in the defense of f7.

12. Ba4 b5 13. Bb3 Na5?

That was the last chance for 13. -- Be6. Black's game may now be regarded as lost.

14. Nd5!

The Knight holds the center and is ready to join in the attack if needed.

14. -- Nh7 15. Ng6!

The Knight is safe. If 15. -- fxg6, then 16. Ne7++ Kh8 17. Nxg6#.

15. -- Ng5 16. Nge7+ Kh8

If 16. -- Kh7, White sets fire to Black's position with 17. Nxf8+ Qxf8 18. Nf6+ gxf6 19. Qxf6.

17. Ng6+ Kg8 18. Nge7+ Kh8 19. Qh5 c6 20. h4!!

White chooses wisely. There is really no place for the Knight now and the text move maintains the attack, even at the cost a a piece (the Knight on e7).

20. -- cxd5 21. hxg5 Qxe7 22. Bxd5 Bb7 23. Rf6!

If 23. -- gxf6, then 24. Qxh6+ Kg8 25. gxf6 and Black must either lose his Queen or submit to mate.

23. -- Bxd5 24. Kf2

Preparing to bring the other Rook to h1 when needed.

24. -- Rfc8 25. Rxh6+!

The final sacrifice drives home the victory.

25. -- gxh6 26. Qxh6+ Kg8 27. Rh1 f5 28. gxf6 Qxf6+

There is no place for the Black Queen. Gokhale could have resigned here.

29. Qxf6 Rf8 30. Rh8# 1-0

Mr. Hess conducted a very instructive Kingside attack.

Alexander Areschenko from the British Chess Magazine
Attila Jakab from the website of Hungarian Television
John Bartholomew from Minnesota Chess

[Jack Rabbit]

4. A Game from a Not-So-Recent Event

Dr. Emanuel Lasker

Emanuel Lasker was a twenieth century Renaissance man. He was a professor of mathematics, a philosopher and the greatest chess player of his time. In addition for holding the world chess championship for a record 27 years (1894-1921), he disocvered some important mathematical theorems. A good friend of Dr. Einstein, Dr. Lasker was the first to raise the objection to the theory of relativity that Einstein did not prove that the speed of light is constant, a point which Einstein conceded. Einstein later wrote a forward to a biography of Lasker.

Lasker was born in Berlinchen, Germany, now in Poland, on Christmas Eve 1869. He won the world chess championship at the age of 25 when he defeated Whilhelm Steinitz in a match in 1894. Lasker, observing of the abuse Steinitz took from the chess world over his slow, defensive maneuvers, resolved to right the wrong done to Steinitz as he, Lasker, was among his followers. However, while Lasker was a defensive player, his was a more active defense. It was always defense with a eye to counterattack.

What characterized Dr. Lasker most was his will to win. It seemed that whenever Lasker had to win a game, he won. In 1910, he needed to win the last game of a match against the Austrian master, Carl Schlechter, in order to retain his title as world champion. He won. Lasker's performance in the 1914 St. Petersburg Tournament is the stuff of heroic epics. The tournament was done in two parts: first, a preliminary event featuring 14 of the contemporary legends of chess; and then a double-round robin final event among the five top finishers with the scores of the first part carried forward. In addition to Lasker, two of the finalists were men who had challenged him for the world title and lost, Dr. Siegbert Tarrasch and Frank Marshall; another, Jose Capablanca, was the ma who seven years later would finally defeat Lasker for the title; and the last, Alexander Alekhine, would later defeat Capablanca in a match for the world title. Lasker entered the final event in second place, a point and a half behind Capablanca. Against these odds and against this stiff competition, Lasker proceeded to score 7 points in eight games to win the tournament outright.

Dr. Lasker viewed chess as a fight. Chess, according to Lasker, is the medium through which human minds do combat, just as a boxing ring was a medium for a physical struggle.

Lasker retired from chess after the 1927 Moscow Tournament, six years after losing his title to Capablanca. However, in 1933, the Nazis took control of Germany and proceeded to legally rob Lasker of everything he had earned in his life. In 1934, after leaving Germany, he again began playing competitive chess. Remarkably, in his middle and late sixties he could still show flashes of his old genius. At Moscow in 1935, he finished third at the age of 66. Lasker retired again and for good after the Nottingham Tournament of 1936 and then settled in New York City. Lasker died in New York in January 1941.

Frank Marshall vs. Emanuel Lasker
International Tournament, Round 16
St. Petersburg, April 1914

West India Game: Old Indian Defense

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6

Such a defense was extremely unusual before World War I; Dr. Lasker, even in his later years, preferred to answer 1. d4 with a straight Queen's Gambit, usually the Orthodox Defense (1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Nf3 o-o).

3. Nc3 Nbd7 4. Nf3 e5 5. e3

More aggressive and more often played nowadays is 5. e4.

5. -- Be7 6. Bd3 O-O 7. Qc2 Re8 8. O-O Bf8 9. Ng5

This is the kind of move Mikhail Tal called "shuffling"; White is making an aggressive display hoping to build an attack around it.

9. -- g6 10. f4 exd4 11. exd4 Bg7 12. f5?!

Dr. Tarrasch, in the tournament book, recommends 12. Bd2 followed by 13. Rael.

12. -- Ng4 13. Nf3 c5 14. fxg6 fxg6 15. h3?!

Dr. Tarrasch believes that Marshall is being overly cautious with his inestimable opponent and that White would do better to play 15. Bg5.

15. -- cxd4 16. Bg5 Ne3 17. Qf2 Qb6 18. Nd5 Nxd5 19. cxd5 Nc5

"Now Black is well developed and a pawn up, but he still has to face some danger on his K-wing" (Dr. Tarrasch).

20. Rad1 Bd7 21. Qh4 Ba4!

Black disrupts his opponent's position. Dr. Tarrasch points out that 21. -- Nxd3 22. Rxd3 Bb5 23. Rb3 is good for White.

22. Bxg6!?

Dr. Tarrasch believes this is White's best chance, but at a high cost.

22. -- hxg6 23. Bd8 Qxd8 24. Ng5 Qxg5 25. Qxg5

Black has three minor pieces for the Queen.

25. -- Bxd1 26. Qxg6

White threatens to win by 27. Rf7, but Dr. Lasker demonstrates that Black's defense is more than adequate.

26. -- Bc2!!

Usually sacrifices are made in service to attack; this is a marvel of a sacrifice that is purely defensive. White's Queen must take the Bishop and submit to being shut out of the action. Those who think defense is boring, think again.

27. Qxc2 d3 28. Qd1 a5 29. Qg4

While White's Queen has had to get back in the game, Black has used the time to set up a counterattack.

29. -- Rf8 30. Rd1 Rae8 31. Qg6 Re2 32. Rf1

Black forces mate after 32. Rxd3 Nxd3 33. Qxd3 Re1+ 34. Kh2 Be5+.

32. -- d2 33. Rxf8+ Kxf8 34. Qxd6+ Kg8 35. Qd8+ Kh7 36. Qh4+ Bh6 37. 0-1

White is out of checks. The Pawn must coronate. Marshall resigns.

Dr. Lasker from ChessGraphics