chessgames.com
Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players · Kibitzing
Emanuel Lasker vs Oldrich Duras
St. Petersburg (1909), St. Petersburg RUE, rd 15, Mar-07
Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense (D26)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

Annotations by Emanuel Lasker.      [80 more games annotated by Lasker]

explore this opening
find similar games 1,462 more games of Lasker
sac: 45.Rxc4+ PGN: download | view | print Help: general | java-troubleshooting

TIP: You can change the color of the light and dark squares by registering a free account then visiting your preferences page. Or, you can change it with the "SETTINGS" link in the lower right.

PGN Viewer:  What is this?
For help with this chess viewer, please see the Olga Chess Viewer Quickstart Guide.
PREMIUM MEMBERS CAN REQUEST COMPUTER ANALYSIS [more info]

A COMPUTER ANNOTATED SCORE OF THIS GAME IS AVAILABLE.  [CLICK HERE]

Kibitzer's Corner
Oct-15-04  iron maiden: 45. Rxc4! is an attractive concluding combination. Amazingly, Lasker won every one of the nine games in which he had White in this tournament.
Oct-15-04  Calli: On 33...Bd5? I am not sure why "Black is in a difficulty" as Lasker says. He seems perfectly fine with a "normal" move in the position like 33...e5. Gives him d4 for the knight and e4 later. Any comments appreciated.
Oct-15-04
Premium Chessgames Member
  tamar: I'm not sure what Lasker had in mind for 33...e5. I would try to win that pawn, but Shredder 8 shows he can lose it and still be equal because of his active pieces.

33...e5 34 Nb3 Bb7 35 Nd3 Bd5 36 Nbc5 a5 37 Re2 Kd6 38 Rxe5 Rxc5 39 Rxf5 Rc2+ 40 Ke3 Bc4! is even, unless there is some wizardry in the rook ending after 41 b3 Rc3 that I don't fathom.

Oct-15-04  Calli: Thanks! Interesting variation. I think Duras also intended to give up the e pawn with Bd5, but Lasker wisely took the a6 pawn instead. Conclude that Duras' position was not so desperate as he thought. This would indicate Lasker's 32.exf5 which gives Black more freedom is a bit suspect. I tend to think e5 is better.
Oct-24-08  notyetagm: 20 ♘e2-d4!


click for larger view

With 20 ♘e2-d4! Dr. Lasker (White) ignores the threat to his White b2-pawn of 20 ... ♖c2xb2. Why?

(VAR) 20 ... ♖c2xb2??


click for larger view

Dr. Lasker: <20...Rxb2 would be a gross blunder because of 21.Nd3.>

(VAR) 21 ♘e5-d3! <trapped piece>


click for larger view

So White did *not* have to directly defend the White b2-pawn because the Black c2-rook will be <TRAPPED> if it takes this <POISONED PAWN>. That is, after the 20 ... ♖c2xb2?? the Black b2-rook will be left with <NO RETREAT!> and <TRAPPED> by the knight retreat 21 ♘e5-d3!.

Just like Weteschnik says in "Understanding Chess Tactics", <YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DEFEND MATERIAL IF THE ATTACKER CANNOT RETREAT!>.

Oct-27-08  notyetagm: 44 ... ♔c5-d4?


click for larger view

By placing the Black king on the d4-square, Black has just made a <KNIGHT FORK ALIGNMENT (KFA)> with the <UNDEFENDED> Black a1-rook. This means that a <CLEARANCE> combination with 45 ♖c2x♗c4+! is in the air, as the recapture 45 ... b5x♖c4 results in the <KNIGHT FORK> 46 ♘b4-c2+.

(VAR) 45 ♖c2x♗c4+! <clearance: c2-square> b5x♖c4 46 ♘b4-c2+ <knight fork>


click for larger view

But Duras (Black) probably saw that he could play 45 ... ♔d4x♖c4 in response to 45 ♖c2x♗c4+! as 45 ... b5x♖c4 is not forced.

45 ♖c2x♗c4+! ♔d4x♖c4


click for larger view

But now comes the move that Lasker saw but Duras missed, the obvious <CHECK> 46 ♘e4-d2+!.

46 ♘e4-d2+!


click for larger view

The nasty tactical point after 45 ♖c2x♗c4+! ♔d4x♖c4: since the Black c4-king has very few <FLIGHT SQUARES>, the <CHECK> 46 ♘e4-d2+! will <FORCE> the Black c4-king onto either the c5- or d4-square, where it will be <FORKED> with the <UNDEFENDED> Black a1-rook.

<<<<So Dr. Lasker playing White used his <COMPUTER EYES>, evaluating *all* of the <FORCING CHESS MOVES> in the position.>>> Dr. Lasker saw that 45 ♖c2x♗c4+! *almost* worked but that he needed a response to 45 ... ♔d4x♖c4. Continuing to examine his <FORCING CHESS MOVES>, Dr. Lasker saw that the <CHECK> 46 ♘e4-d2+! would create a <KNIGHT FORK> on the next move.>

Oct-27-08  notyetagm: 33 ... ♗a8-d5


click for larger view

34 ♘b4xa6!


click for larger view

Can White really play 34 ♘b4xa6!, <LINING UP> his two <UNDEFENDED> knights on a6 and a5 for the <SKEWER> 34 ... ♖c7-a7 ?

Dr. Lasker: <34.Rxd5 was also feasible. But after the exchanges Black's King would then have a very favorable position in the center, both for attack on the Queen's side and defense of the King's side. <<<34.Nxa6 is stronger as 34...Ra7 will not do because of 35.Rxd5>>>>

(VAR) 34 ... ♖c7-a7? ♖d2x♗d5! <remove the guard>


click for larger view


click for larger view

The fine point of Dr. Lasker's tactical play. 34 ... ♖c7-a7? makes a <KNIGHT FORK ALIGNMENT (KFA)> with the Black e7-king, with c6 the tactical base. 35 ♖d2x♗d5! then <REMOVES THE GUARD> of the c6-tactical base, threatening 36 ♘a5-c6+.

Also notice that Dr. Lasker mentions the <RELOADER> 34 ♖d2x♗d5!, with the idea of <RELOADING> on the d5-square with 34 ... e6x♖d5 35 ♘b4xd5+ <knight fork> but declined this variation because his opponent would have <ACTIVE PIECES>, mainly the Black king.

(VAR) 34 ♖d2x♗d5! <reload> e6x♖d5 35 ♘b4xd5+ <knight fork>


click for larger view


click for larger view

Jun-20-19  zydeco: This is what a high-level game looks like. Black has a lot of clever ideas (especially 17....Qc4) but Lasker always manages to find a path through the tactics and preserve a strategic advantage.

NOTE: Create an account today to post replies and access other powerful features which are available only to registered users. Becoming a member is free, anonymous, and takes less than 1 minute! If you already have a username, then simply login login under your username now to join the discussion.

Please observe our posting guidelines:

  1. No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
  2. No spamming, advertising, duplicate, or gibberish posts.
  3. No vitriolic or systematic personal attacks against other members.
  4. Nothing in violation of United States law.
  5. No cyberstalking or malicious posting of negative or private information (doxing/doxxing) of members.
  6. No trolling.
  7. The use of "sock puppet" accounts to circumvent disciplinary action taken by moderators, create a false impression of consensus or support, or stage conversations, is prohibited.
  8. Do not degrade Chessgames or any of it's staff/volunteers.

Please try to maintain a semblance of civility at all times.

Blow the Whistle

See something that violates our rules? Blow the whistle and inform a moderator.


NOTE: Please keep all discussion on-topic. This forum is for this specific game only. To discuss chess or this site in general, visit the Kibitzer's Café.

Messages posted by Chessgames members do not necessarily represent the views of Chessgames.com, its employees, or sponsors.
All moderator actions taken are ultimately at the sole discretion of the administration.

This game is type: CLASSICAL. Please report incorrect or missing information by submitting a correction slip to help us improve the quality of our content.

Featured in the Following Game Collections[what is this?]
Lasker annotates
by bishop
45 Rc2xBc4! vacates c2-square for knight fork winning a rook
from Clearance by notyetagm
Lasker annotates his own game !
from Chess is like universe .... by arielbekarov
lasker annotates games
by zakir
46 Ne4-d2+! becomes dark-squared, threatens undef Black a1-rook
from KNIGHT CHANGES COLOR WITH TEMPO,FORKS FORKING SQ by notyetagm
KOCCMOHAYT's favorite games
by KOCCMOHAYT
Round 15
from St Petersburg 1909 by Archives
QGA: Classical Def (D26) 1-0 Notes by Lasker, Stockfish
from 99 1900s Grandmasters Annointed Jack by fredthebear
QBA 3
from angelodamato's favorite games by angelodamato
64idi0t's_misc
by 64idi0t
QGA
from ANIL RAJ.R'S QUEEN PAWN GAMES by ANIL RAJ.R

Home | About | Login | Logout | F.A.Q. | Profile | Preferences | Premium Membership | Kibitzer's Café | Biographer's Bistro | New Kibitzing | Chessforums | Tournament Index | Player Directory | Notable Games | World Chess Championships | Opening Explorer | Guess the Move | Game Collections | ChessBookie Game | Chessgames Challenge | Store | Privacy Notice | Contact Us

Copyright 2001-2023, Chessgames Services LLC