PART 1

<INTRODUCTION>

Schlechter vs Lasker, 1910 is the <9th game of the 1910 title match>.

Quantitative mapping of this game between these players is below. All the moves of the game were inserted into the engine before evaluation was commenced. Once the moves were inputted, each move was subject to a minimum of 16 ply (usually more) scrutiny by the engine all the way back to move 1. A forward slide was then conducted move by move to the final move of the game. As the evaluations were still erratic a second move-by-move reverse slide was conducted back to the move one.

Accordingly, the numerical evaluations for each move are added to the game score in this analysis after each ply and are the net result of three move-by-move game length slides which have been conducted without stopping the engine, thereby allowing accumulated hash tables to add information to - and therefore enhance the accuracy of - the engine’s analyses.

General methods used are described in the bio. It is important to note that the methodology (sic) used in these analyses is <not> represented by the figures used to weight the game errors (viz: 2 for a <blunder>, 1 for a <bad move> and 0.5 for a <dubious move>, <<but the use of <a minimum of 16 ply> engine analysis on each and every move on at least one forward and one reverse slide.>> In this game, each move is subject to a minimum of 16 ply engine evaluation <three times>. Most moves in the game are actually analyzed to significantly greater depths than 16 ply, as I believe that Grandamaster play is generally at least at that level if not greater.

Engine preferences are included throughout the game where they differ from players preferences.

Some analysis is included to provide some idea of the reason for the engine preferences where they didn’t coincide with the moves played, except in situations where the evaluation differences were very minor.

SUMMARY

This game is unusual from the point of view of engine analysis, as the ratio of moves made by the players that correspond to the engine’s first preferences are significantly lower than in the other games. However, many of the evaluation differences between the players’ and engine’s preferred moves are no more than a few centis, and not as significant as it might otherwise be.

Lasker surprised Schlechter with <5…e5>, who responded with the dubious <6. Nb3>, a move to which theory has never warmed, not even slightly. Rattled, Schlechter complicates the game, saccing a pawn with <14. f4>, but then stumbled by following up with <16. Bf5>, a technical blunder which should have lost the game, rather than with <16. Bh4> which would have provided more chances of complicating the game without actually risking a forced loss. However, the ploy works as Lasker misses both winning moves: one starting with <16…Qb6+> and the other with <16…g6>, leaving Schlechter to neatly extricate himself from a lost position to achieve near equality.

A long endgame ensures with Schlechter more or less holding the line, but at a disadvantage because of his weak queen side pawn structure (neutralizing his queen side majority) he inherited as a result of his poor opening play, and Black’s King side pawn majority. He cracks under the strain, playing a series of substandard moves at moves 50, 51, 53, and 54 before making a technical blunder on move 55 when he crossed the 1.40 boundary. Uncharacteristically, Lasker misses the win for the second time in the game, allowing Schlechter to salvage the draw.

The night before the next, last and deciding game of the match, Lasker seemed resigned to the possibility of relinquishing his title to Schlechter…

<<Further Notes by Visaya:

GAME MOVES 1-5:

<1. e4> ( 0.30) <1…c5> ( 0.37)

<2. Nf3> ( 0.34) <2…Nc6> ( 0.37)

<3. d4> ( 0.29) <3…cxd4> ( 0.29)

<4. Nxd4> ( 0.29) <4…Nf6> ( 0.30)

<5. Nc3> ( 0.30) <5…e5> ( 0.30)

<Capablanca: “Altogether unusual and I believe not very good as the d pawn remains weak. It is not easy, however, to discover how to get at it, and for a surprise the move proved first-class, as Black got the better game.”>

Subsequently, theory has found this move to be quite sound for Black and is the second most common Black move after <5…d6>. The only game in the database with this move and which predated this game was Tarrasch vs Mieses, 1888, which White won in 30 moves.

GAME MOVE 6:

<6. Nb3> ( 0.24)

<Capablanca: “6. Nbd5, I believe was the right answer. Black would then have to play 6…d6, not 6…Qa5 because of 7. Bc4 and if the 7…Nxe4 8. Bxf7+ Kxf7 9. Qd5+ with the better game.”

Schlechter was apparently the first to play this move, which appears only another 53 times in the database, although its most recent usage was in Jobava vs A Bykhovsky, 2009 which White also won in 30 moves. The engine – and the overwhelming number of players using this variations - endorses Capablanca preference of <6. Ndb5> , rating it ( 0.30): Opening Explorer

<Main engine preference>: <6.Ndb5> ( 0.30)

GAME MOVES 6-7:

<6…Bb4> (=-0.24) The only move with which Black gains advantage.

<7. Bd3> ( 0.37)

<Engine preference>: <7.Bd2> ( 0.27): <7…Bxc3 8.Bxc3 0-0 (if <8…Nxe4 9. Qg4> =0.00) 9.Bd3 a5>

GAME MOVE 7:

<7…d5> (=-0.17) with strong threats centered around the pin on c3. However, White can easily counter them by capturing at d5 or by castling.

<Main engine preference>: <7...Bxc3+> ( 0.37): <8.bxc3 0-0 9.0-0 d6 followed by <…Be6>>.

Further Notes by Visaya:

GAME MOVE 8:

<8. exd5> ( 0.45)

<Engine preference>: <8.0-0> (=-0.17): <8…Bxc3 9.exd5 Qxd5 (if <9…Nxd5 10. bxc3 Nxc3> then <11. Qe1> with advantage, eg: <11…Nd5 (forced) 12. Ba3> and White is fully developed while Black will have difficulty castling) 10.bxc3 0-0 11.c4 Qd8 12.Bb2 a5 13.a4>

GAME MOVES 8-10:

<8…Nxd5> ( 0.45)

<9. Bd2> ( 0.45) <9…Nxc3> ( 0.45)

<10. bxc3> ( 0.55)

<Engine preference>: <10.Bxc3> ( 0.45) <10…Bxc3+ 11.bxc3 0-0 12.0-0 Qf6 13.Qh5 g6 14.Qh6 Ne7 15.f4 exf4 16.Rae1 Be6 17.c4 Rac8 18.Qxf4 Qxf4>

GAME MOVE 10:

<10…Bd6> ( 0.44):

<Capablanca: “Black has now a beautiful game, which shows that White’s treatment of the opening was not the best.”>

<Engine preference>: <10…Be7> ( 0.55): <11.0-0 0-0 12.Be3 Qc7 13.f4 Bd6 14.Qf3 Re8 15.Rad1 Be6 16.Bb5 exf4 17.Bxc6 Qxc6 18.Qxc6 bxc6 19.Bxf4>

GAME MOVE 11:

<11. Qh5> ( 0.44)

<11. Qf3> was played in J Czerwinska vs K Mleko, 2001 in the 2001 U18 Polish Girls Championship. This game was also drawn.

GAME MOVE 11:

<11…Qc7> ( 0.31)

<Main engine preferences>: <11...g6> ( 0.44): <12.Qh6 Bf8 13.Qe3 Bg7>

GAME MOVE 12:

<12. 0-0> ( 0.31) <12…Be6> ( 0.28)

<Engine preference>: <12...g6> ( 0.31): <13.Qh6 Bf8 14.Qe3 Bg7>>

GAME MOVE 13:

<13. Bg5> ( 0.43)

<Main engine preference>: <13.Rfe1> ( 0.28): <13…0-0-0 14.c4 Be7 15.Bf5 Qd7 16.Bxe6 Qxe6 17.Bc3 f6 18.Qe2 Qf5 19.Rab1 Kb8 20.c5 Ka8>

GAME MOVES 13-14:

<13…h6> ( 0.43)

<14. f4> ( 0.54)

<Main engine preference>: <14.Nd2> ( 0.43): <14…Ne7 15.Rfd1 0-0-0 16.Bxe7 Qxe7 17.Nc4 f6 18.Bf5 Kb8 19.Qg4 h5 20.Qe4 Bxf5 21.Qxf5 Qc7 22.Qe4 f5 23.Qd5 Bb4 24.Qxe5>

Schlechter’s brilliant <14. f4> is the key move that defines the game, more so than his 16th, which should have lost, as it provides more practical OTB opportunities than the engine’s preferred move <14. Nd2>.

Further Notes by Visaya:

GAME MOVES 14 – 16:

<14…exf4> ( 0.54)

<15. Rae1> ( 0.54) <15…Kd7> ( 0.54)

<16. Bf5> ( 2.40):

click for larger view

Having been outplayed in the opening, Schlechter has complicated the game with the brilliant <14. f4> as he clearly didn’t fancy defending a position that has very little worthwhile counter play. However, this move should have been a loser although it would have been very difficult to calculate over the board; <16. Bh4> allows a defense that maintains complications.

<Main engine preference>: <16.Bh4> ( 0.54): <16…Rae8 17.Nc5+ Bxc5+ 18.Qxc5 Kc8 19. Bf2 Bd7 20. Rxe8+ Rxe8 21. Qa3>, and both sides have chances.

<2. <16.Rxe6> ( 1.90) is also technically better than the move actually played.

<<Schlechter’s 16th move constitutes a blunder as defined in the project and adds <2.0> to the games error weighting.>>

GAME MOVE 16:

<16…Raf8> ( 0.56)

<Capablanca: “Here is what Lasker himself had to say about the situation, and I agree with him. “Here Black could have played 16…Qb6+ 17. Kh1 g6. White could not now sacrifice his queen, for after 18. Rxe6 gxh5 19. Re7+ Kd8 20. Rd7+ Ke8 21. Bf6 Be5 and White has no satisfactory continuation. On the other hand after 18. Bxe6+ fxe6 19. Qxg6 hxg5 20. Qxe6+ Kc7 21. Qf7+ Kb8 22. Nd4 Black would be confronted by great difficulties, as White would threaten 23. Rb1 followed by the sacrifice of the rook. But it has been proved by analysis that I could have escaped all danger. The move actually made appeared also very strong, but by a fine combination Schlechter nearly equalized the game.”>

<Engine preferences:>

<1: <16...Qb6+> ( 2.32) <17.Kh1 g6 18.Bxe6+ fxe6 19.Qxg6 hxg5 20.Qxe6+ Kc7 21.Qf7+ Kb8 22.Nd4> (as per Lasker’s comments):

click for larger view

There are several winning continuations for Black here, the main ones being <22…Nxd4> and <22…a6>:

<<1. A. <22…Nxd4 23. Re8+ Rxe8 24. Qxe8+ Kc7 25. Qxa8 Qb5 (or <25…Nf5 26. Qg8 Ne3 27. Qf7+ Kd8 28. Re1 Be7>) 26. c4 Qxc4 27. Rb1 Qd5>>>.

<<1. B. <22…a6 23.Qf6 (<23. Rb1 Qc7>) 23…Qd8 (forced, but still wins) 24.Nxc6+ bxc6 25.Qd4 (<25. Rb1+ Ka7 26. Qd4+ c5>) 25…Bc7 26.Rb1+ Kc8 and wins>>>.

<2. <16...g6> ( 2.40): <17.Bxe6+ fxe6 18.Qxg6 Qb6+ 19.Nd4 Nxd4 20.Qg7+ Kc6 21.cxd4 hxg5 (or <21…Rag8 followed by 22…hxg5>)> and Black has won a piece.

<< Lasker’s 16th move blunders the forced win, thereby earning an extra 2.0 points of error weighting for the game. Accumulated error weighting is <4.0>.>>

Further notes by Visaya:

Schlechter blunders, not really surprising in such a difficult position. The sword that he has taken up can go both ways, but that is the price for playing into slashing positions. Lasker has the Title in his grasp again!

GAME MOVES 17-20:

<17. Bxf4> ( 0.56) <17…Bxf4> ( 0.56)

<18. Nc5+> ( 0.56) <18. Kc8> ( 0.56)

<19. Bxe6+> ( 0.56) <19…fxe6> ( 0.56)

<20. Nxe6> ( 0.56) <20…Bxh2+> ( 0.26)

<Engine preference>: <20…g6> ( 0.56): <21. Qh3 Bxh2+ 22. Qxh2 Rxf1+ 23. Rxf1 Qe5 24.Qxe5 Nxe5 25.Rf6>

GAME MOVES 21-22:

<21. Qxh2> ( 0.26) <21…Rxf1+> ( 0.26)

<22. Rxf1> ( 0.26) <22…Qd7> (=0.23)

Lasker hangs on to the queen to try and preserve his much reduced chances, but to no avail. Schlechter eventually forces the exchange of queens.

<Engine preference:> <22...Qxh2+> (-0.26): <23.Kxh2 Re8 24.Nxg7 Re2 25.Rc1 Re3 26.Nf5 Rxc3 27.Nxh6 Kd7 28.Rd1+ Ke6 29.Rd2 Ra3 30.c4 Nb4 31.Re2+ Kd6 32.Nf5+>>

GAME MOVES 23-26:

<23. Nc5> ( 0.23) <23…Qe7> ( 0.23)

<24. Qh3+> ( 0.23) <24…Kb8> ( 0.23)

<25. Ne6> (=-0.23) (threatening 26. Qg3+ followed by the capture of the g7 pawn)

<25…Ka8> ( 0.23)

<26. Nd4> ( 0.34)

<Engine preference>: <26.Qf5> (=-0.23) forces the exchange of queens, and equality.

GAME MOVE 26:

<26…Qc7> (=0.20)

<Main engine preference>: <26...Qc5> pinning the Knight; ( 0.34): <27.Rf5 Qb6 28.Rb5 Qc7 29.Qe6 a6 30.Rc5 Qb6> with slight pressure.

GAME MOVE 27:

<27. Qf5> ( 0.29)

<Engine preference>: <27.Qf3> (=-0.20) threatening <27. Qf4>, <27. Qf7> and <27. Nxc6> and an easy draw. <27…Nd8 (intending <28…Re8>) 28.Qe3= >>

Further notes by Visaya:

GAME MOVES 27-28:

<27…Rc8> ( 0.29)

<28. Qc5> ( 0.36)

<Main engine preference>: <28.Ne6> ( 0.29): <28…Qb6+ 29.Qf2>

GAME MOVE 28:

<28…Nb8> ( 0.31)

<Engine preference>: <28...Qb8> (-0.36): <29.Qf5 (defending <c2> if Black exchanges the Knights) 29…a6 30.Qg4 Nxd4 31.cxd4 Qc7 (<31…Qxc2 32. Qxg7>) 32.Rf2 Rd8 33.Rd2 Qc3> and Black has the initiative, eg: <34. Qf4 g5 25. Qf2 g4>.

GAME MOVE 29:

<29. Qxc7> ( 0.31) <29…Rxc7> ( 0.31)

<Capablanca: “The attack is over and Black has the better game.”>

But only very marginally, and based on White’s relatively weak queen side pawns, and the difficult-to-convert King side pawn majority.

GAME MOVES 30-31:

<30. Rf3> ( 0.31) <30…a6> ( 0.31)

<31. Kf2> ( 0.45)

<Main engine preference>: <31. Rg3> ( 0.31): <31…g5 32.Rh3 Ka7 33.Kf2 (if <33…Rxh6 Rxc3 34. Rh3 Rc4> is slightly better for Black) 33…Nc6 34.Nf5> probably draws, eg: <34…Rf7 35.Rf3 Rf6 36.Nd4 Ne5 37.Rxf6 Ng4+ 38.Ke2 Nxf6 39.Kd3 Kb6 40.Nf5>

GAME MOVES 31 – 32:

<31…Nc6> ( 0.45)

<32. Ne6> ( 0.52)

<Main engine preferences>: <32.Ke3> 0.45) <33…Ne5 33.Rf8+ Ka7> is not much better for White.

GAME MOVES 32-33:

<32…Re7> ( 0.52

<33. Re3> ( 0.54)

<Engine preference>: <33.Nd4> ( 0.52): <33…Ne5 34.Rf8+>

GAME MOVE 33:

<33…Kb8> ( 0.45)

<Engine preference>: <33...Ka7> ( 0.54): <34.Ke2 Kb6 35.Kd3>

GAME MOVE 34:

<34. Nd4> ( 0.49)

<Engine preference>: <34.Ke2> ( 0.45) <34…Ka7 35.Kd3 Kb6 36.Re2 Kb5 37.Re4>

Further notes by Visaya:

GAME MOVES 34-35:

<34…Rf7+> ( 0.49)

<35. Rf3> ( 0.51)

<Engine preference>: <5.Ke2> ( 0.49)

GAME MOVES 35-37:

<35…Rc7> ( 0.51)

<36. Ne6> ( 0.51) <36…Re7> ( 0.51)

<37. Re3> ( 0.54)

<Engine preference>: 37.Nd4 ( 0.51): <Ne5 38.Rf8+ Ka7 39.Nf5 Rc7 40.Ke3>

GAME MOVE 37:

<37…Kc8> ( 0.41)

<Engine preference>: <37...Ka7> ( 0.54): <38.Ke2 Kb6 39.Kd3>>

<Capablanca: “Black has skillfully improved his position.”>

GAME MOVES 38-39:

<38. Ke2> ( 0.41) <38…Nd8> ( 0.41)

<39. Nd4> ( 0.53)

<Main engine preference>: <39.Nc5> ( 0.41) <39…Rf7 40.Ne6 Kd7 41.Nxd8 Kxd8 42.Rg3 g5 43.Rh3 Rf6 44.Kd3 Kc7 45.Kd4 >

GAME MOVE 39:

<39…Rf7> (=-0.05)

<Main engine preference>: <39...Kd7> ( 0.53):

Lasker dissipates his advantage at this point. After <39…Kd7> maintains the endgame pressure.

GAME MOVE 40:

<40. Rf3> ( 0.53)

Schlechter misses the move that draws easily, namely the engine’s main preference: <40. Rg3> (-0.05): eg: <40…Kc7 41.Rg6 Nc6 42.Ne6+ Kd7 43.Nxg7 Ne5 44.Rg3 Kd6 45.Nh5 Kd5 46.Rg7 Rxg7 47.Nxg7 Ke4 48.Nh5 b6 49.Nf6+ Kf4 50.Nd5+>. The point seems to be that Black’s Knight cannot get back into action. If <40…Nc6>, then White exchanges, and the c-file is closed. If the King moves forward to support the Knight, the lost tempo enable White to play <41. Rg6> and Black can make no headway.

GAME MOVES 40 and 41:

<40…Kd7> ( 0.53) <41. Rd3> ( 0.67)

<Main engine preference>: <41.Re3> ( 0.53): <41…Kd6>

GAME MOVE 41:

<41…Ke7> ( 0.33)

<Main engine preference>: <41...Nc6> ( 0.67): <42.Nf3+ Kc7 43.Nd4 Rf6 44. Rg3 g6 45. Re3 Kd6 46. Nxc6 Kc6 47. Re7 b6> preserves the initiative and some advantage.

Further notes by Visaya:

GAME MOVE 42:

<42. Re3+> ( 0.51)

<Main engine preference>: <42.Rg3> ( 0.33): <42…Ne6 43.Kd3 Nf4+ 44.Ke4 Nh5 45.Rg6>

GAME MOVES 42-43:

<42…Kd6> ( 0.51)

<43. Rd3> ( 0.72)

<Main engine preferences>: <43.Kd3> ( 0.51): <43…Rf6 44.g3 Nc6 45.Ke4 g6 46.Rd3>

GAME MOVE 43-44:

<43…Ne6> ( 0.72)

<44. Nf3+> ( 0.79)

<Main engine preference>: <44.Nxe6+> ( 0.72): <44…Kxe6 45.c4>

GAME MOVE 44:

<44…Kc5> ( 0.76)

<Engine preference>: <44...Kc7> ( 0.79) <45.Ke3 Rf5 46.c4 Ra5 47.a3 Nc5 48.Rc3 Kd6 49.Kf4>

GAME MOVES 45-46:

<45. g3> ( 0.76) <45…Nc7> ( 0.76)

<46. Nd2> ( 0.80)

<Engine preference>: <46.Nd4>: ( 0.76): <46…Re7+>

GAME MOVE 46:

<46…Kc6> ( 0.63)

<Engine preference>: <46...Re7+> ( 0.80): <47.Kf3 Ne6 48.Nb3+ Kc6 49.Nd4+ Kc7 50.Nxe6+ Rxe6>

GAME MOVE 47:

<47. Nf3> ( 0.73)

<Main engine preference>: <47.Ne4> ( 0.63) <47…Nd5 48.Rd4 Nf6 49.Rc4+ Kd5 50.Rd4+ Ke5 51.Kd3 Nxe4 52.Rxe4+ Kf5 53.Rf4+ Ke6 54.Re4+ Kd5>

GAME MOVE 47:

<47…Kb5> ( 0.37);

<Main engine preference>: <47...Kc5> ( 0.73): <48.Nd2 Re7+ 49.Kf3 Ne6 50.Nb3+ Kc4 51.a4 Ng5+ 52.Kf2 b6 53.Nd2+ Kc5 54.Rd8 Ne4+ 55.Kf3 Nxd2+ 56.Rxd2>

GAME MOVE 48:

<48. Rd4> ( 0.58)

<Engine preference>: (-0.37): <48.c4+>: ( 0.37): <48…Kc5 (<48…Kxc4 49. Ne5+> )49.Kd2 Ne8 50.Kc3 Nf6 51.Nd2 Re7 52.Nb3+ Kb6 53.a4 Ng4 54.Rd5 Re3+ 55.Rd3 Kc7 56.Kd4 Re1 57.c5 Ne5 58.Re3>

GAME MOVES 48-50:

<48…Kc5> ( 0.58)

<49. Nd2> ( 0.58) <49…Nb5> ( 0.58)

Further notes by Visaya:

The play has been somewhat uneven with inaccuracies on both sides. At this point, the game is defensible however over the next 5 moves, Schlechter makes a series of inaccurate moves that land him in a losing position.

GAME MOVE 50:

<50. Nb3+> ( 0.84)

<Engine preference>: (-0.58): <50.Ne4+>: ( 0.58): <50…Kc6 51.Rc4+ Kd5 52.Rb4 Ke5 53.a4 Nc7 54.Nf2 Nd5 55.Re4+ Kd6 56.Rd4 Ke6 57.Re4+ Kf5>

GAME MOVES 50-51:

<50…Kb6> ( 0.84)

<51. Rd3> ( 1.03)

<Main engine preference>: <51.Rc4> ( 0.84): <51…Nd6 52.Rd4 Kc6 53.Na5+ Kc7 54.g4 (prevents <54…h5>)>

GAME MOVES 51-53:

<51…Rc7> ( 1.03)

<52. Kd2> ( 1.03) <52…Rc4> ( 1.03)

<53. Rd7> ( 1.11)

<Main engine preference>: <53.Re3> ( 1.03): <53…Rg4 54.Ke2 Nd6 55.Kf3 Rc4 56.Nd4>

GAME MOVE 53-54:

<53…Rg4> ( 1.11)

<54. c4> ( 1.18)

<Engine preference>: <54. Rd3>: ( 1.11)

GAME MOVES 54-55:

<54…Kc6> ( 1.18)

<55. Rd3> ( 1.47)

<Engine preference>: <55.Re7> ( 1.18): <55…Nd6 56.c5 Nf5 57.Re6+ Kc7 58. c3>>

<<Too defensive: a blunder than should have cost the game. The move adds <2.0> to the error weighting of the game.>>

GAME MOVES 55-56:

<55…Nd6> ( 1.47)

<56. Nd4+> ( 1.47) <56…Kc7> ( 0.32)

<Capablanca>: “Lasker says, “A regrettable oversight; 56…Kb6 would have won the game.” It is indeed unfortunate that he did not play 56…Kb6. Lasker had very skillfully brought his advantage to a point where it would tell and at the moment he is going to reap the fruit of his fine play, makes a slip and fails to win the game that was almost a necessity for him.”

<<The engine agrees with Capablanca’s assessment. The move blunders a win and thereby adds a weight of <2.0> to the error weighting of the game, for a total error weighting of 8.0 for this game.>>

Further notes by Visaya:

Although Schlecter's previous blunder seemed understandable, hunkering down with a passive move in a bad position, Lasker here misses a simple pin! The obvious Knight check drives his King to the d-file (or else perpetual ensues), self-pinning his Knight. Schlecter's desperado Knight can then kill itself for a tempo taking the g7 pawn, so he could play c5 thus re-taking Lasker's Knight. Lasker takes the c-pawn instead. In this phase however, Schlecter has managed to eliminate his most glaring weakness, the c4-pawn. The game is now dead drawn.

GAME MOVES 57-60:

<57. Ne6+> ( 0.32) <57…Kc6> ( 0.32)

<58. Nd8+> ( 0.32) <58…Kc7> ( 0.32)

<59. Ne6+> ( 0.32) <59…Kd7> ( 0.32)

<60. Nxg7> ( 0.32) <60…Ke7> ( 0.20)

<Engine preference>: <60. Kc6> ( 0.32

GAME MOVES 61-65:

<61. Nh5> ( 0.20) <61…Rxc4> (=-0.08)

<62. Re3+> (=-0.08) <62…Kf7> (=-0.08)

<63. Rf3+> (=-0.08) <63…Kg6> (=-0.08

<64. Rf6+> (=-0.08) <64…Kxh5> (=-0.08)

<65. Rxd6> (=-0.08)

Draw agreed. Final position:

click for larger view

<SUMMARY>

The game contained two blunders each by Schlechter (at moves 16 and 55) and Lasker (at moves 16 and 56). As each blunder adds <2.0> to the error weighting of the game, the error weighting for this game totals <<<<8.0>>>>.

Further notes by Visaya:

This was a very nervously played game by both Schlechter and Lasker! The last 5 games have been particularly nerve-wracking, and with one game to go after this, both players knew a single boo-boo would be catastrophic. Schlechter's over the board behavior seems peculiar. Apparently, presented with what was then an unusual opening, he might have tried to refute it over the board with aggressive play. When he mishandled it, he hunkered down defensively, allowing Lasker, desperate for a win, to build up a huge advantage. The nervous or exhausted Lasker in turn made two big atypical mistakes for a player of his caliber, almost like simple oversights.

Repeating my statement above:

click for larger view

White to move

1) -1.39 (36 ply) 57.Ke2 Nxc4 58.c3 h5 59.Kf2 Rg5 60.Ne2 Rf5+ 61.Ke1 Ra5 62.Rd7 g5 63.Rg7 g4 64.Rh7 Re5 65.Kd1 Rd5+ 66.Ke1 Ra5 67.Rh6+ Ka7 68.Nd4 Re5+ 69.Ne2 Rc5 70.Nf4 Ne3 71.Re6 Nd5 72.Nxd5 Rxd5 73.Rh6 Rd3 74.c4 Rxg3 75.Rxh5 Rc3 76.Kf2 Rxc4

2) -1.57 (36 ply) 57.Ne2 Nxc4+ 58.Kc3 Kc5 59.Nf4 Nd6 60.Kd2 g5 61.Ne6+ Kc6 62.Nd4+ Kc7 63.Ke2 Re4+ 64.Kf1 h5 65.Kg2 g4 66.Kf2 Re5 67.Ne2 Ne4+ 68.Ke1 Nc5 69.Rd4 b5 70.Kf2 Ne6 71.Rd3 Ng5 72.Nf4 Nh3+ 73.Kg2 Nxf4+ 74.gxf4 Rf5 75.Kg3 a5 76.Rc3+ Kb7 77.Re3 Kb6 78.Re6+ Kc5 79.c3 Rd5

3) -1.62 (36 ply) 57.c5+ Kxc5 58.Nb3+ Kc6 59.Nd4+ Kc7 60.Ke2 Re4+ 61.Kf2 g5 62.Rc3+ Kd7 63.Rd3 Ke7 64.Kf3 g4+ 65.Kf2 Re5 66.Ne2 Kd7 67.Ke1 Kc6 68.Kd1 Nc4 69.Rd8 Rd5+ 70.Nd4+ Kc5 71.Rxd5+ Kxd5 72.Nf5 Ke4 73.Nxh6 Kf3 74.Nf5 Ne3+ 75.Nxe3 Kxe3 76.Kc1 Kf3 77.Kd2 Kxg3 78.Ke3 Kh3

Regarding the highly tactical Game 7 of this match, the author says at the end,

Anand vs Topalov, 2005