Louis Eisenberg vs Carl Schlechter (1902)

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Louis Eisenberg vs Carl Schlechter
Monte Carlo (1902), Monte Carlo MNC, rd 14, Feb-25
Queen's Gambit Declined: Harrwitz Attack (D37) · 0-1

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

Given 26 times; par: 48 [what's this?]

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Mar-08-23		KEG: Schlechter barely broke a sweat in polishing off Eisenberg who overreacted to some tactical possibilities and got demolished in fairly short order. Not a classic Schlechter game for his fans to adore, but more than adequate to overwhelm his over-matched opponent. 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. Bf4 A good alternative to the more usual 5. Bg5. 5... 0-0 6. Rc1 c5 click for larger view 7. e3 The more usual 7. dxc5 is the only way for White to seize an edge. The text, however, was to be a favorite of Rudolph Spielmann, and was played by Schlechter himself against Rubinstein in 1912 (a draw(. 7... Nbd7 8. Bd3 a6 Though known as the "drawing Master," Schlechter avoided the equalizing 8...cxd4 and played for mild complications/ 9. cxd5 exd5 click for larger view 10. 0-0 Again missing a chance to play 10. dxc5 with some advantage and instead aiming at drab equality. 10... b5?! 10...c4 was seemingly best, but Schlechter played the arguably slightly riskier text in the hope...soon fulfilled...of leading Eisenberg down a wrong path, the position now being: click for larger view 11. e4?! Missing his last chance to play dxc5 and now operating with an inferior position for the balance of the game. Now Schlechter obtained an edge he never fully relinquished for the balance of the game. 11... dxe4 12. Nxe4 12. Bxe4 was definitely superior. After the text, Schlechter seized the initiative. 12... c4! 13. Bb1 click for larger view Not a great position to reach as White at the end of the opening: his d-pawn is isolated and Black, though far from a won game, has all the prospects to force the action. 13... Bb7 14. Nd6 click for larger view A misguided effort which Schlechter--playing with a seemingly unhurried calm, did not immediately exploit.

Mar-12-23		KEG: Post II 14... BxN? Missing the sort of opportunity to seized control that Schlechter was usually able to handle in his sleep. Instead of the text, Black should gang up on the White Knight on d6 with either 14...Qc7 or 14...Qb8. White now either has to play 15. NxB or 15. Nf5 and then 16. NxB, in both cases allowing Black to snap up the White Bishop on f4 with a massively superior position. But even after the much weaker text, Schlechter still had the better game: 15. BxB Re8 16. Bf4 16. b3 is probably best. The text left: click for larger view 16... Nf8 17. Be5 Ng6 18. Re1 b3 still looks strongest for White. After the text, the position was: click for larger view 18... Nd5 Schlechter still seems to be sleep-walking through this part of the game. 18...NxB was clearly indicated. Perhaps Schlechter was waiting for the inconsistent Eisenberg to blunder. If so, he wouldn't have to wait long. 19. Qd2 Perhaps 19. Be4 or 19. Bg3 immediately were somewhat better. 19... f6 20. Bg3 Qd7 21. a3 a5 Still playing possum. But Schlechter was still slightly better, and here Eisenberg decided to trade pieces, the position now being: click for larger view 22. RxR+ Maybe 22. h4 was better, but Eisenberg hadn't yet blundered. 22... RxR 23. BxN? Schlechter now got the opportunity he wanted, especially after Eisenberg's next move. 23. a4 or 23. h3 were much better. Both moves, as will be seen, were based on a mirage. 23... hxB click for larger view

Mar-13-23		KEG: Post III A thousand apologies. The last position I displayed in my post was actually the situation two moves later. After 23...hxB, the position was; click for larger view It was this position Eisenberg had failed to understand, else he would not have played the disastrous and immediately losing: 24. Qxa5? Eisenberg apparently though he could play this with impunity. Schlechter instantly proved otherwise. Eisenberg may or may not have been theoretically lost before 24. Qxa5? (something less committal such as 24. h3 or 24. h4 would have been less catastrophic--though Eisenberg would still have been saddled with the weak isolated d-pawn among other problems). But now he was sunk, the position after 24. Qxa5? being: click for larger view With his Queen out of play, Eisenberg had no defense to the coming attack: 24... Re2 The true killer was 24...c3! (e.g., 25. Rxc3 [there is nothing better for White] Ra8! 26. Rc7 NxR 37. QxN QxQ 38. BxQ b4! and Black--with the exchange to the good and a monster attack--wins easily. This line, however, might have been difficult for Schlechter to calculate over the board, especially with the move-30 time control approaching. So he played a simpler--though less immediately crushing--winning move. This left: click for larger view 25. Qa7 Perhaps 25. a4 was a trifle better, but White is sunk anyway. 25... Rxb2 And now we have arrived at the position I mistakenly posted as reflecting the board after move 23: click for larger view 26. Re1? Allowing a quick finale. 26. h3, protecting against a back-rank mate, was the only way to offer even token resistance. After the text, Eisenberg got walloped: 26... c3! click for larger view Ouch! Here, Eisenberg tried what he perhaps though was a useful combo, but it failed miserably. 27. Bf4 The Bishop is indeed indirectly defended, but only at the cost of the complete devastation that followed: 27... NxB 28. Qb8+ Kh7 28...Qc8 is more accurate, but the text was more than sufficient to wrap up the game: 29. QxN c2! click for larger view With the move-30 time control nearly reached, perhaps Eisenberg did not have a chance to recognize just how dead he was. But as I will show in my next post, Schlechter lost no time in finishing off the game. By his dalliance with his Queen, Eisenberg had allowed Schechter's c-pawn to become a many-headed monster that allowed him no chances to survive.

Mar-13-23		KEG: Post IV 30. Rc1 This loses almost instantly, but the alternative--30. Qc1--was no big improvement; e.g., 30...BxN 31. gxB Qxd4 32. Kg2 Rb1. 30... Rb1 click for larger view Eisenberg could have resigned here with a clean conscience, but he chose to suffer a bit longer: 31. Qd2 If 31. Ne1, Schlechter could end proceedings with the pretty 31...Qxd4!. After the text, all semblance of White's resistance crumbled: 31... BxN 32. gxB Qf5 click for larger view 33. Kf1 If instead 33. Kg2 Black romps with 33...RxR 34. QxR Qg5+ (a pretty way to conclude the game). Eisenberg's move presented a different way for his demise: 33... Qxf3 click for larger view 0-1 If 34. Qxc2 RxR+ 35. QxR Qh1+ wins the house.

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