Chess Strategy · Chapter 35Game No. 27
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White: Niemzowitsch. Black: Tarrasch. French Defence.
This opening is called the Sicilian Defence. White, however, adopts a continuation which leads into a variation of the French Defence.
2. P-QB3 P-K3 3. P-Q4 P-Q4 4. P-K5 Kt-QB3 5. Kt-B3 Q-Kt3 6. B-Q3 PxP
Black seeks to demonstrate that White’s QP is weak. The present game, however, seems to prove that White is able to guard it adequately, thus permanently supporting the KP too. It would therefore appear to be better to attack the KP itself, and to play P-B3 on the fifth move. Now B-Q2 would be better than the text move. As White cannot give further support to his Q4, he would have to play PxP, and the protection of the K5 would have to be undertaken by pieces, which is not desirable.
7. PxP B-Q2
Not KtxP, 8. KtxKt, QxKt, because of B-Kt5ch.
The B cannot go to B2 on account of Kt-Kt5 and B-Kt4.
8. … KKt-K2 9. P-QKt3 Kt-B4 10. B-Kt2
Now White’s centre is safe from further attacks. True, White has forfeited castling, but as he dominates the King’s side, where Black cannot undertake anything, there is no harm in P-Kt3, preparatory to “artificial castling.”
10. … B-Kt5ch 11. K-B1 B-K2
Directed against 12. P-Kt4, driving off the Kt. Now Kt-R5 would follow.
12. P-Kt3 P-QR4
This manœuvre is unwise; White counters with 13. P-QR4, a move which was necessary in any case, in order to develop the QKt via R3, this being the Knight’s only chance of getting into play, because, as long as the QP is attacked three times the lines of B and Q must not be interrupted. That is a weakness in White’s game, and it was necessary for Black to prevent his Kt being driven off by P-KKt4. P-KR4 was the correct move. Then White also had to play P-KR4 to prevent P-KKt4-5, in which case Black could have played l3. … P-KKt3, and have brought his Rooks into concerted action. P-KKt3 would have been necessary before castling, because White’s B-Q3 would have attacked the KKt. The latter could not then capture the Queen’s Pawn on account of a discovered check, e.g. l2. … Castles; 13 B-Q3, KtxP?; 14 KtxKt, KtxKt; 15 BxKt, QxB?; 16 B-R7ch, and QxQ.
In Diagram 139 Black’s P-QR4 is not only a lost move, but moreover allows a White piece to settle permanently at QKt5. It also prevents the Knight from playing to QR4, from where White’s P-QR4 could be answered by Kt-Kt6 eventually.
13. P-QR4 R-QB1 14. B-Kt5 Kt-Kt5
All these skirmishes only result in the exchange of pieces, and as long as Black’s KRis out of play this can only be of advantage to White.
15. Kt-B3 Kt-QR3
This is in order to drive off the B. Black should have exchanged his own inactive QB, as the White B might become effective on the Diagonal QKt1-KR7, whilst Black’s QB has no future.
16. K-Kt2 Kt-B2 17. B-K2 B-Kt5
Black cannot yet castle, because of 18. B-Q3 Kt-KR3, 19. B-QB1).
18. Kt-R2 Kt-QR3 19. B-Q3 Kt-K2 20. R-QB1 Kt-B3 21. KtxB QKtxKt 22. B-Kt1
White’s last eight moves completed his development, and his Bishops lie in wait for the attack on the Black King. Meanwhile Black has effected nothing. On the contrary, he
has exchanged his valuable KB, and also allowed his KKt to be driven off. His King’s side is bare, and castling would be fraught with danger. If Black castles now, White plays Kt-Kt5, and Black must weaken his position by P-R3 or P-Kt3, and White would advance his KtP or RP and force an exchange, opening a file for his Rook. In consequence Black decides to forfeit castling and to bring his KR to bear on the KB file. For this also Black must first play P-R3, and White obtains an open file by P-Kt4- Kt5. The sequel is shown here.
22. … P-R3 23. P-Kt4 Kt-K2 24. RxRch BxR 25. Kt-K1
White waits first, to see whether Black is going to castle, and meanwhile tries to exchange Black’s QKt, which commands his QB2 and Q3.
25. … R-B1 26. Kt-Q3 P-B3 27. KtxKt QxKt 28. PxP RxP 29. B-B1 Kt-B3 30. P-Kt5 PxP 31. BxP R-B1 32. B-K3 Q-K2 33. Q-Kt4
This provides against Black attempting to free his Bishop by P- K4. Black’s B-Q2 is countered by B-Kt6ch. White new wins surprisingly quickly, through the greater mobility of his pieces.
33. … Q-B3 34. R-Kt1 R-R1 35. K-R1 R-R5
Here Black could have held out a little longer by defending his KtP: 35. … K-B1; 36. R-Kt3, R-R5; 37. Q-Q1, K-Kt1; 38. B-Kt5, QxP (RxP, 39. Q-R5); 39. R-Q3, QxP; 40. BxR, QxB.
36. Q-Kt3 RxP
Compulsory. B-Kt5 was threatened, and after R-R1, QxP, QxQ, RxQ, the RP wins easily.
37. BxR KtxB 38. QxP Q-B6ch 39. Q-Kt2 QxQch 40. RxQ KtxP 41. P-R4 Resigns.