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Black to move

1) =0.00 (28 ply) <35...Bxe4 36.fxe4 Kd6 37.Rh3 Rf1+ 38.Rf3 Rh1 39.Kg4 Ke5 40.Rf7 Rg1+ 41.Kh4 Rh1+ 42.Kg4>

2) +0.60 (28 ply) 35...Bc8 36.Re3 Rd8 37.Nf2 Rd4+ 38.Re4 Kd8 39.Ke5 Rd2 40.Ng4 Bxg4 41.fxg4 Ke7 42.Kf5+ Kd7 43.g6 Rf2+ 44.Kg5 h6+ 45.Kh4 Rf1 46.Re3 Rh1+ 47.Rh3 Rf1 48.g5 hxg5+ 49.Kxg5 Rg1+ 50.Kf5 Rf1+ 51.Ke5 Re1+ 52.Kf4 Rf1+ 53.Ke4 Re1+ 54.Kd3 Rd1+ 55.Kc2 Rg1 56.Rf3 Ke6 57.Rf7 Rg2+ 58.Kd3 Rg3+ 59.Ke4 Rh3 60.Rxg7 Rxh5

3) +0.60 (27 ply) 35...Bh3 36.h6 gxh6 37.gxh6 Rh1 38.Ke5 Bd7 39.f4 Rxh6 40.f5 Rh1 41.Ng5 Re1+ 42.Kf6 h5 43.Rh3 Rd1 44.Rxh5 Rf1 45.Ne4 Rf3 46.Ke5 Rxb3 47.f6 Rf3 48.Nd6 Re3+ 49.Kf4

Unlike the 1907 match against Marshall, this contest represented a real challenge to Lasker's title. Lasker defeated Marshall 8-0-7 in their very one-sided title match, But only two years previously in 1905 Tarrasch had beaten Marshall nearly as badly (8-1-8). Lasker and Tarrasch had only played two games previously; Tarrasch winning at Hastings 1896 and Lasker returning the favor at Nuremberg 1896. Lasker finished ahead of Tarrasch at both these tournaments (but his loss to Tarrasch at Hastings provided Pillsbury's margin of victory at Hastings 1895).

This long-awaited match in fact was probably less competitive than it would have been in or around 1899-1900. Tarrasch had won the massive double round-robin tournament at Vienna 1898 (winning a tie-break match narrowly over Pillsbury); and Lasker had triumphed brilliantly at London 1899 and Paris 1901. Between that time and the playing of this match, Lasker had played only one major tournament: Cambridge Springs 1904 in which he finished two points below first-place Marshall and played only one match: his 1907 slaughter of Marshall. During that same gap, Tarrasch played no tournaments after his triumph at Vienna 1898 until Monte Carlo 1902 at which his play was rusty and far below his usual standard. Tarrasch rebounded by winning at Monte Carlo 1903; finishing tied for second at Ostend 1905 and winning at Ostend 1907 and decisively defeating Marshall in their 1905 match. But his minus score at Nuremberg 1906 suggests that Tarrasch was no longer at his peak. He never won a major tournament after 1906. By contrast, many of Lasker's greatest tournament results still lay in the future: his sharing of first-place with Rubinstein at St. Petersburg 1909; his first-place finish at St. Petersburg 1914 over an all-star field (Capablanca, Alekhine, Tarrasch, Marshall, Rubininstein etc.); his first-place finishes at Moravsky-Ostrava 1923 and New York 1924; his second-place finish at Moscow 1925 ahead of Capablanca; and his remarkable third-place finish at Moscow 1935 (including his win against Capablanca) at age 67!

In sum, Lasker was much closer to his top form in 1908 than was Tarrasch. I suspect Lasker would most likely have won a match against Tarrasch in 1900, but I think it would have been far more competitive. While the 1908 match provides much of interest, it was posterity's loss that these two giants did not play when they were both at their best.

The first game of the match was a wonderful battle marred by Tarrasch's blunder on move 35.

1. e4

Lasker played 1. e4 the first six times he had White in this match, winning four, losing one, and drawing the other. He switched to 1. d4 in his final two games as White, winning Game 13 and drawing Game 15.

1... e5

Tarrasch responded 1...e5 in Games 1, 3, and 5, winning Game 3 but losing the other two. In Games 7, 9, and 11 he switched to the French Defense, managing only a single draw in these two games.

2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5

Both Lasker played 3. Bb5 in all the games beginning 1. e4 e5, Lasker playing this in Games 1, 3, and 5 and Tarrasch in each of the seven games he had the opportunity (although Games 12 and 16 later transposed to the Four Knights Game). In short, the Ruy Lopez got quite a work-out in this match!

3... a6

Tarrasch played this in all three games in which he faced the Ruy Lopez in this match. By contrast, Lasker played 3...Nf6 all seven time he faced 3. Bb5 (winning three, losing two, and drawing the other two).

4. BxN

According to Schroeder, Lasker stated his intention to play 4. BxN before the match, suggesting that he couldn't lose in such a game. Lasker had indeed played 4. BxN in his 1896 win against Tarrasch at Nuremberg 1896, and of course used it to spectacular effect in his win against Capablanca at St. Petersberg 1914. In that latter game, however, Lasker needed a win to catch up to Capablanca. Thus, the notion that Lasker was only seeking a draw in this first game of the match against Tarrasch seems highly questionable.

Notably, in his other two Ruy Lopez games as White in this match, Lasker switched to 4. Ba4.

As for Lasker's claim that White cannot lose with the Exchange Variation, it is notable that he DID play this move in Game 13 of his 1894 match against Steinitz and was defeated (though not because of the opening).

4... dxB

5. d4

This leads to an early exchange of Queens. As a result, Schroeder calls it "the drawing move" and states that Lasker played 5. Nc3 when he wanted to win (as he did against Tarrasch at Nuremberg 1896 and in his win in Game 10 of his 1896-1897 re-match against Steinitz). But this overlooks Lasker's employment of 5. d4 against Capablanca at St. Petersberg 1914, a game Lasker needed to win.

In fact, there is quite a bit of poison in the resulting endgame here for Black. And if Lasker was looking for an alternative way to play for a win, he might have tried 5. 0-0.

5... exd4
6. Qxd4 QxQ
7. NxQ

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Much ink has been spilled discussing the respective advantages in this position: White's superior pawn structure vs. Black's two Bishops. Having encountered this position as Black many times in my youth, it was my experience that the superior played usually won here from either side of the board.

7... c5

According to <keypusher>, Tarrasch called this a "weak move" that he adopted only because Steinitz played it against Lasker in his above-cited win over Lasker in Game 13 of their 1894 World Championship match. Reinfeld/Fine point out that 7...c5 weakens Black's Queen-side pawns and that 7...Bd7 is likely best.

But the move is certainly not all that bad and poses an awkward question for the White Knight. It was Tarrasch's follow-up that led to Lasker's emerging from the opening with an advantage, not this move. In this regard, it is notable that Schlechter, who as will be seen provided some fascinating commentary on this position, played 7...c5 here at least three times. From his comments, Schlechter though the move was best for Black here.

8. Ne2

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As Soltis points out, the text was a novelty when played by Lasker in his 1894 match with Steinitz. It is more flexible than 8. Nf3 and is almost certainly best.

8... Bd7

As played by Steinitz in the above-referenced 1894 game against Lasker. The move is probably best, but Schlechter, according to Wilson, recommended 8...f5?! since if then 9. exf5 Black gets an excellent and clearly superior game after 9...Bxf5. Black would also, again according to Schlechter, get a good game after 9. e5 Bd7, though Marco strongly disagreed and worried that White's passed e-pawn would be too strong. While Schlechter seems to have had the better assessment of the position after 9. e5 Bd7, this all is probably beside the point since White after 8...f5 can just develop his pieces via 9. Nbc3 or 9. Bf4 with at least even chances.

9. b3

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Lasker, according to Schroeder, called this "An attempt at a novel method of development." Other commentators were skeptical. Tarrasch, according to the translation provided here by <keypusher> said the idea of developing the c1 Bishop on b2 was "not at all a happy one." Reinfeld/Fine called the move "An indifferent idea." As will be discussed below, Tarrasch's play against 9. b3 was questionable at best.

9... Bc6

While hardly a blunder or serious mistake, there were three superior options to the text:

(A) 9...c4!. Schlechter was, I believe, the first to advocate this move. Alekhine, who played 9...c4 as early as 1909 overstated the case in saying (as given by <keypusher>) that 9...c4 "demolishes 9. b3. I am more cautious about this. Thus after 9...c4 10. bxc4 Ne7 or 10...0-0-0 White's chances hardly seem worse, while Soltis' suggested 10...Be6 allows White to obtain a fine game with the simple developing 11. Nd2.

(B) 9...f5 the move Lasker, according to Schroeder, said was "in order to create open lines for the two Bishops."

(C) 9...0-0-0 as suggested by Reinfeld/Fine.

10. f3

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10... Be7

With what Reinfeld/Fine called the "illogical" [Solits called it "curious"] idea of exchanging dark-square Bishops.

10...f5; 10...Ne7; and 10...0-0-0 all look a bit better. But yet again, there is some hyperbole here. Tarrasch's move is not all that bad, and as Soltis points out there are variations in which Black's dark-square Bishop could turn out to be a liability.

The major problem with Tarrasch's idea, of course, is that it removes his one significant compensation for his inferior pawn structure: the possession of the two Bishops. I cannot imagine Janowski (to give just one example) adopting this course.

11. Bb2

All according to Lasker's plan:

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11... Bf6

Tarrasch was not to be dissuaded from his idea of trading Bishops. The commentators were not impressed.

"An unnecessary fear of White's Bishop. 11...Nf6 followed by 0-0-0 seems good enough for any emergency. Black might as well avoid exchanges, his opponent's aim, and keep his Bishops." (Hoffer).

Soltis, like Hoffer, recommends 11...Nf6. Perhaps better still were 11...f6 or 11...Bh4+.

In any case, if anyone is better here, it is White.

12. BxB NxB

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"A further disadvantage, the Knight is unsatisfactorily placed at f6, where it blocks the f-pawn." (Reinfeld/Fine).

13. Nd2 0-0-0

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Soltis here summarizes the various opinions as to where Black's King belongs in this line. Capablanca (according to Soltis) who castled king-side in his 1914 loss to Lasker claimed it should be on the King-side to deal with any White passed pawns that might develop. Reinfeld/Fine thought the Black King was best placed on the Queen-side to defend any weak Black pawns there.

All in all, I see nothing better than 13...0-0-0 and see no reason Black (though slightly inferior) should lose the game after the text. Tarrasch's more serious problems arose from his subsequent play.

14. 0-0-0

If Lasker was playing for a win, he might have considered 14. Nc4 or maybe the re-positioning 14. Nf1 rather than the committal text. But Lasker's move paid unexpected (and perhaps unwarranted) benefits in light of Tarrasch's poor reply, the position now being:

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Edward Lasker writes in Chess Secrets I Learned from the Masters that Emanuel said to him: "Well, tomorrow, if I should be lucky and draw White in the first game, I think I will play the exchange variation of the Ruy Lopez. Can you tell me how anyone can lose that opening?" And afterwards: "Everything went according to schedule. But I won't play that variation again."

14... Rd7

"?"--(Tarrasch)

Most of the commentators failed to comment on this move, but its defects were spotted by Tarrasch and <keypusher>. See the notes here by <keypusher> for an excellent discussion of why this was bad.

After 14...Rd7, Tarrasch's position--though not lost by any means--was difficult, especially with Lasker wielding the White army.

15. Nf4

Not 15. Nc4 immediately which would, as Tarrasch pointed out, run into trouble after 15...Bb5!

15... Re8

As several commentators have observed, doubling Rooks by 15...Rhd8? would lead to loss of material after 16. Nd3 b6 [16...Re7 and 16...g6 and just abandoning the pawn on c5 were perhaps marginally better, but also clearly lose] 17. Ne5.

After 15...Re8, the position was:

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Lasker's minor pieces were obviously much better placed, the Black Bishop corralled by all the pawns on White squares.

Lasker now had various ways to try to tighten the pressure.

16. Nc4

Now that the other Knight had vacated e2, Nc4 was very strong and if now 16...Bb5 Lasker could just have responded 17. Ne3. Moreover, and as noted by Tarrasch, the White Knight was now threatening Na5.

Other good choices for White here were 16. a4 and 16. h4.

16... b6

Preventing 17. Na5 but at the cost of weakening the Black Queen-side.

17. a4

A multi-purpose move (see Tarrasch's comments translated here in the commentary by <keypusher>.

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17... a5?

Rightly condemned by Reinfeld/Fine but, strangely, by nobody else. 17...Kb7 (the move recommended by Reinfeld/Fine preparing b5 was certainly better. And perhaps an even simpler way for Black to get counterplay was with an immediate 17...b5.

18. RxR

White might do better to defer this exchange and try either 18. h4 (preparing King-side operations) or just take his time with 18. Kd2 followed by 19. Kc3. There was no rush at all since Tarrasch here wasn't threatening anything serious.

18... NxR
19. Rd1

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As Reinfeld/Fine aptly noted here:

"The ending is in White's favor because of the relative immobility of Black's Bishop. Black can hardly do more than mark time."

But while White is definitely better, if Black is patient, he can probably achieve a draw with best play.

19... Ne5

Hoffer thought this was a mistake, and Wilson purports to report that "the leading authorities consider that the exchange here was unfavorable to Dr. Tarrasch."

But, other than Hoffer, I have no idea which other "leading authorities" Wilson was purporting to cite. Given Black's cramped position, exchanges look entirely logical. But, even after the exchange of Knights, Black's Bishop remained a problem-child, and White still had the only plausible chances to try for a win (even if objectively the game should be drawn with best play by both sides).

20. NxN RxN

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Tarrasch was now poised to play 21...c4, but Lasker quickly put a stop to all such notions:

21. c4!

"!:--(Reinfeld/Fine)(Soltis)

As Wilson notes, Lasker had now neutralized any notions of counterplay Tarrasch had on the Queen-side and was not ready to turn his attention to the other wing while Tarrasch could do little more than await developments:

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21... Re8

The question here, not discussed so far as I can see, is whether Tarrasch would have been better to seek active play with 21...g5. After, e.g., 22. Nd3 (if 22. Nd5 g4! 23. Nf6 gxf3 24. gxf3 Rg5 with approximately equal chances) Re6 23. h3 White is still much better, but Black may have some chances for counterplay that were entirely lacking in his actual approach. But, over-the-board, Tarrasch's judgment seems most prudent. Play after 21...g5 can get tactically tricky (much easier to navigate with computer assistance), and Tarrasch quite properly sough play with fewer surprises and a likely draw with best play.

22. Nh5

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22... Rg8

As Tarrasch and Reinfeld/Fine correctly noted, Black could get into serious difficulties with 22...g6 23. Nf6.

The only good alternative to the text, and possibly even slightly superior, is 22...Re6 as suggested by <keypusher>

23. Rd3

As Tarrasch points out, the text allows the White King to operate BEHIND the White Rook. <keypusher> mentions the strong alternative 23. g4, to which I would add 23. h4 as an option. But Lasker's less committal method is quite good and one that left the option of g4 or h4 available in the coming play.

23... f6!

An excellent defensive move by Tarrasch since it allows his Bishop to harass the White Knight with 24...Be8.

24. Kd2 Be8
25. Ng3

25. Nf4 was an equally good alternative, White retaining some edge in either case.

The text left:

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25... Bd7

"Nf5 is threatened." (Tarrasch)

True, but there were other arguably superior ways to address this problem. 25...g6 is more committal but has the advantage of preparing for any attempted King-side pawn storm by White. Alternatively, Black could play 22...c6 and if then 23. Nf5 then 23...Kc7 with Bd7 to follow.

26. Ke3

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26... Re8

Tarrasch faulted this move as not aggressive enough and said that 26...c6 followed by a Queen-side mobilization by Black was best. But that assumes that Lasker would be a potted plant and not go to work on the King-side with 27. h4. Black would probably be OK in this line--as he was after the text. But perhaps best was 26...g6, preparing for the inevitable King-side march by the White pawns.

27. Nh5 Re7
28. g4

"!"--(Soltis)

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28... c6

"!"--(Solits)

Soltis said this was necessary to keep the White Knight off d5. But Black could also play 28...Be8 and if 29. Nf4 g5 and if then 30. Nd5 Black is OK after 30...Rf7 with c6 coming soon.

There was a furious debate here between Hoffer and Schlechter as to whether Black's best is to march his King to the King's side to anticipate a White pawn advance. Schlechter seems to have had the better of this argument, since if 28...Kd8 now he gives 29. Nf4 making 29...Ke8 impossible because of the winning 30. Nd5.

29. h4

Commencing King-side operations.

29... Kc7

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To this point, Lasker had done an excellent job of keeping Tarrasch--and most notably his Bishop--couped up. Not quite a winning position, but to this point White had all the chances. But all that changed after Lasker's next move.

30. g5?!

Rightly branded as "premature" by Tarrasch. It gave Tarrasch instant counterplay and allowed Black's next move. 30. Kf4 as recommended by Barzca was better, as was playing Rook to d2 or d1 and then following up with 31. Rg1 and 32. f4 followed by 33. Ng3; 34. Nf5; and then 35. h5 while retaining his pawn on g4 to continue to restrain Black's Bishop.

After the text, Tarrasch instantly took full advantage with:

30... f5

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"This strong move equalizes the game." (Tarrasch)

To which I would add that everything else is bad.

31. Ng3 fxe4

Not 31...g6 32. Kf4 (Reinfeld/Fine)

The position after 31...fxe4 was:

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32. Nxe4

Soltis, Tarrasch, and Shredder all say 32. fxe4 was best, but they seem to be thinking that Black would reply 32...b5 after which White arguably gets a small edge but overlook the stronger 32...Rf7 which suddenly gives Black a smidgeon of counterplay.

All in all, Lasker's move seems best.

Here, the game was adjourned:

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Looks like a draw at this point, and indeed Tarrasch (as <keypusher> has recounted, purported to demonstrate a likely draw either with Tarrasch's next move or with 32...b5. But after the latter move, White would have some chances with 33. Kf4 (a move Tarrasch apparently did not consider). Tarrasch's actual move was best:

32... Bf5

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This idea by Tarrasch was entirely logical. Lasker's advantage had revolved around the superiority of his Knight as opposed to Tarrasch heretofore very bad Bishop. With the text, Tarrasch could trade off these pieces and reduce to an almost certainly drawn Rook and Pawn ending.

33. h5

As Tarrasch noted, this deprives the Black Bishop the possibility of retreating to g6. But, of course, Black can now solve this problem by playing the simple 33...BxN. But Tarrasch liked Bishops, and this preference would soon lead him to disaster.

33... Rd7

The text was also good, since now White must either allow the trade of Rooks and thus lose all winning chances or allow Black to rule the d-file:

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34. Rc3

Tarrasch called the text "risky," but--speaking from a practical perspective--it is White's only chance of retaining any winning opportunities (if Black errs). 34. RxR+ would at best lead to a difficult minor piece ending for White with a draw with best play. A draw is likewise the result with the text assuming best play by both sides. But Lasker may have been banking on Tarrasch being unwilling to trade Bishop for Knight though that is the easiest and surest way to draw.

34... Rd1

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"It is still a matter for speculation how White could have won the game if Black had not made this unfortunate excursion with the Rook..." (Hoffer)

While there is much truth in Hoffer's point here, in fact there is in principle nothing wrong with the text, providing decent follow-up by Black.

35. Kf4

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As it turns out, this was the critical position of the game. As every commentator has pointed out, Black can draw with 35...BxN. (See the comments by Tarrasch contained in the post by <keypusher>). While Hoffer's statement that 35...BxN was the "only" move to draw was probably not strictly accurate [35...Bc8 leaving d7 available to the Black Rook probably also is a theoretical draw]., there is no doubt that: (a) 35...BxN is the simplest way to avoid defeat; and (b) the text move loses.

35... Bd7?

"?"--(Tarrasch)(Reinfeld/Fine)(Soltis)

"??"--(Schroeder)

"Dr. Tarrasch's determination to keep his Bishop cost him the game." (Wilson)

36. Re3!

"!"--(Tarrasch)(Soltis)

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"A very fine move; all at once Black's game is very precarious..." (Tarrasch)[see comment by <keypusher> for the balance of Tarrasch's evaluation of the text]

"A powerful move which keeps the bishop out of play (...Be8 or ...Be6 allow Nxc5!)[ to be more precise, 36...Be8 gets crushed by 37. Nf6!--KEG] and permits White to continue Ke5 and f3-4-5 unmolested." (Soltis)

36... Rh1?

Compounding the misplay on his last move, but Black was lost anyway. When first playing over the game, I thought that there was still time to hold the position with 36...Bc8. But with the help of my silicon friends, I now see that 36...Bc8 loses to 37. Ng3; e.g., 37...Rd4+ (best) 38. Re4 Kd8 39. g6! hxg6 40. hxg6 Rd1 41. Re3 b5 [passive play by Black is now hopeless] 42. Re5 Bd7 43. Ne4 Be8 44. cxb5 cxb5 45. axb5 Bxb5 46. Nxc5 Be8 47. Ne6+ Kd7 48. Nf8! Kd8 [forced] 49. Kf5 Rd6 50. Ne6+ Kc8 51. Nf4 Bd7+ [there is nothing better] 52. Kg5 followed by 53. Rxa5 and wins.

The above line is, to say the least, very difficult. After Tarrasch's move, however, Lasker relentlessly overran the Black stronghold.

37. Ng3 Rh4+

The only hope.

38. Ke5

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38... Rh3

Tarrasch called this "feeble," and it does little to extricate Black from his almost certainly lost position. But there is no saving move for Black. If 38...Be8 40. Nf5 is a crusher, and on--for example--38...Kd8 39. f4 followed by the advance of the f-pawn and Black is lost.

39. f4

Black is toast:

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39... Kd8

Hopeless, as is everything else.

If 39...Be8, then 40. Ke6 is murder.

39...Bg4 has been discussed at length by Schroeder and Soltis, but that move likewise does not save Black, e.g. 40. f5! Bxh5 41. Ke6 Kd8 42. Rd3+ [Soltis' move, which is best. Schroeder's 42. Kd6 allows Black drawing chances after 42...Be8 43. f6 gxf6 44. gxf6 h5 45. Nf5 RxR 46. NxR and now not Schroeder's 46...h4 which gets crushed after 47. Ke6 but 46...Bg6 47. Kxc6 h4 48. Kxb6 h349. Ng4 Kd7 50. Kxc5 Ke6 51. Kb5 Bf5 52. Nf2 h2 53. Kxa5 Kxf6 54. Kb6 Ke5 55. a5 Kf4 56. a6 Be4 57. c5 Bd5 58. c6 Kg3 59. c7 KxN 60. Nh1+ BxN 61. c7 Be4 62. c8(Q) h1(Q) and--while I'm not certain about this unusual Queen ending, I am guessing this is a theoretical draw. But after Soltis' 42. Rd3+ White wins in a walk: e.g., 42...Ke8 43.Kd6 and wins.

Let's go back to the position after Tarrasch's actual 39...Kd8:

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40. f5

This wins, but 40. Kd6 is faster. Soltis claims that Black can slow White down after 40. Kd6 Rh2 [40...Be8 offers slightly better resistance, but does not save the day] 41. Rd3 [41. Nf1 Rxh5 42. Re7 Bg4 43. Rxg7 is faster, but White also wins quickly with Solti's move] g6 [41...h6 may be slightly better, but the outcome is the same] and now White, Soltis notwithstanding, marches to victory with 42. hxg6 hxg6 43. Ke5 or 43. f5.

After 40. f5, the position was:

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40... Rh4?

Equivalent to resignation. The toughest resistance would be offered by 40...Be8, but White still wins rapidly by 41. g6 hxg6 42. hxg6 with Ke6f6 and f6 coming.

Reinfeld and Fine considered 40...Ke7 and analyzed a win for White after 41. f6+, but quickest here would be 41. h6! gxh6 42. g6! hxg6 43. fxg6 Kf8 44. Rd3 Be8 45. Rf3+ Kg8. 46. Kf6 after which Black will have to give up his Bishop to stop the White g-pawn.

41. f6

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41... gxf6+
42. Kxf6 Be8

42...b5 might extend the game, but it too is hopeless: e.g., 43. axb5 cxb5 44. cxb5 Bxb5 45. g6 hxg6 46. hxg6 etc.

43. Nf5

"!"--(Schroeder)(Reinfeld/Fine)

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"This pretty move terminates the game. The rest plays itself..." (Hoffer)

"Pretty and decisive." (Reinfeld/Fine)

43... Rf4

As Tarrasch, Reinnfeld/Fine, and Soltis all pointed out, 43...Rxh5 gets crushed immediately by 44. RxB+ KxR 45. Ng7+.

Tarrasch said that 43...Rg4 was best, but that loses to 44. RxB+ [Solits' 44. Re7--pointed out by <keypusher>--also wins after 44...Bxh5 (Black has nothing better) 45. Rxh7 Be8 46. Nd6 (even more lethal is 46. Rh8 and then if 46...Kd7 47. RxB KxR 48. g6)] KxR 45. Ng7+

Simply put, Black is dead in the water here.

44. g6

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44... hxg6

Black might be able to delay the inevitable with 44...Bxg6, but that would have been tantamount to resignation.

45. hxg6 Rg4

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As is obvious, Black cannot stop the g-pawn except by sacrificing a piece.

46. RxB+

"!"--(Reinfeld/Fine)

As Lasker pointed out after the game, 46. Rg3 also wins easily (also noted by Reinfeld/Fine), as does Shredder's 46. Rd3 pointed out by <keypusher> and also mentioned by Soltis.

Tarrasch said that White's King would be driven back after 46. g7 Rg6+, but White wins easily in that line as well: 47. Ke5 Bf7 48. Rh3 Re6+ 49. Kf4 Rg6 50. Rg3 Re6 51. Rd3+ Ke8 52. Re3 RxR 53. KxR Bg8 54. Nh6

46... KxR
47. g7

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47... Kd7

If 47...Rg1 48. Nh6 (Reinfeld/Fine)

48. Nh4

48. Nh6 pointed out by Tarrasch and by Schroeder was perhaps simpler, e.g., (following Schroeder's line) 48...Rxg7 49. KxR Ke6 50. Ng8 (50. Nf7 also wins quickly) Ke5 51. Ne7 after which, as Schroeder notes, the White Knight ("A regular Pegasus that one") cleans up the Black pawn threats.

48... Rxg7
49. KxR

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The rest was child's play:

49... Ke6
50. Nf3

As Tarrasch pointed out, there are faster routs to concluding the game, but as <keypusher> has rightly said, how to play from here is "a matter of taste; Lasker's plan is sufficient, and includes a neat point as well."

50... Kf5
51. Kf7 Ke4
52. Ke6

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Cute!

52... Kd3

52...KxN 53. Kd6 was equally futile for Black.

53. Kd6 Kc3

If 53...b5 54. cxb5 cxb5 55. Kxc5 [Schroeder noted that 55. axb5 was faster] b4. 56. Nd4 (Reinfeld/Fine)

54. Kxb6 Kxb3
55. Kb5

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