Chess Strategy · Chapter 45Game No. 37
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White: Marshall. Black: Capablanca.
Queen’s Gambit Declined (see p. 52).
1. P-Q4 P-Q4 2. P-QB4 P-K3 3. Kt-QB3 Kt-KB3 4. B-Kt5 B-K2 5. P-K3 Kt-K5
Lasker has played this move successfully in his match against Marshall; but it has not come into general use. White should get the better game by 6. BxB, QxB; 7. Q-B2, KtxKt; 8. QxKt or 7. PxP, KtxKt; 8. PxKt, PxP; 9. Q-Kt3, in the first case because the Black QB is out of play, in the second case because of the open Kt file. 7. KtxKt is bad, because PxKt prevents the natural development of the KKt at B3, and Black can obtain an attack after castling by P-KB4-5.
6. BxB QxB 7. B-Q3
This also is a good move, as it furthers development.
7. … KtxKt 8. PxKt PxP
Giving up the centre pawn in this case is not against the spirit of the opening, as it opens the only diagonal on which the Black QB can operate.
9. BxP P-QKt3 10. Q-B3 P-QB3 11. Kt-K2 B-Kt2 12. Castles KR Castles 13. P-QR4
This move can only be good if White intends to operate on the Queen’s side, possibly by KR-Kt1 and P-R5. But the position of the White Queen makes the adoption of a different plan compulsory. For one thing, it is rational to concentrate forces where the Queen can take her share, therefore, in this case, on the King’s side. On the other hand, the manœuvre referred to could not be put into execution here because Black can prevent P- R5 by P-QB4 and Kt-B3. A fairly obvious course was to play P-K4, taking possession of the centre. P-QB4 would then be answered by P-Q5, after which the White Rooks would be very effective at Q1 and K1. In this game White does initiate a King’s side attack subsequently, and thus 13. … P-QR4 is clearly a lost move.
13. … P-QB4 14. Q-Kt3 Kt-B3 15. Kt-B4 QR-B1
The tempting move of P-K4 cannot be played because of 16. Kt-Q5, Q-Q1; 17. PxBP, Kt-R4; 18. KR-Q1. The move in the text threatens PxP, KtxP and RxB.
16. B-R2 KR-Q1 17. KR-K1 Kt-R4
This threatens B-B3 attacking the RP. White decides to yield the same at once, thinking quite rightly that a direct attack must have good chances, as Black gets two pieces out of play in capturing the pawn.
18. QR-Q1 B-B 3 19. Q-Kt4
Black cannot take the pawn yet, because of KtxP and BxPch.
There is no need to play for violent complications. The logical course was to open the way to the King’s side for the Rooks by P- K4. The continuation could have been: 20. P-K4, BxRP; 21. Kt-R5, P-Kt3; 22. P-K5, BxR; 23. RxB followed by Kt-B6, with a strong attack; also after 21. … P-B3, 22. R-Q2, White’s attacking chances are good. After the move in the text, Black could get an advantage by simply exchanging: 20. … PxP; 21. KtxP, BxKt; 22. RxB, RxR; 23. QxRch, R-Q1; 24. Q-KB5, P-Kt3; 25. Q-B2, Q-R6. In taking the RP, however, Black incurs grave risks.
20. … BxRP 21. R-Q2 P-K4 22. Kt-R5 P-Kt3 23. P-Q6 Q-K3 24. Q-Kt5 K-R1
Black finds the weaknesses at his KB3 and KR3 very troublesome. RxP would lose at once, because of 25. RxR, QxR; 26. Q-R6!
25. Kt-B6 RxP 26. RxR QxR 27. B-Kt1
Q-R4 would have been answered by K-Kt2.
27. … Kt-B3
Black must try to bring back his minor pieces for the defence. If he succeeds in doing that in time, the end-game is easily won on the Queen’s side.
Not PxB because of Q-R6.
White’s attacking resources seem inexhaustible. By exchanging Queens he could have got his pawn back in this way: 29. B-Q7, Q- B1 (R xB?, 30. Q-R6); 30. BxKt, BxB; 31. QxQP, Q-Q3; 32. Kt- Q7,QxQ; 33. KtxQ, B-K1; 34. KtxQBP. But even then Black would maintain a superiority in the end-game owing to the freedom of his passed pawn, and because he can post his Rook at the seventh after P-QKt4. This explains why Marshall prefers not to win back his pawn, but to enter upon a violent attack with a doubtful issue. However, Capablanca finds the right move in all the ensuing complications, and finally wins the game.
29. … Kt-K2 30. Kt-K4 Q-B2 31. Q-B6ch K-Kt1 32. B-K6
This is now compulsory. If White loses time in withdrawing the B, Black consolidates his position by: Kt-Q4 and Q-K2.
32. … PxB
R-B1 is refuted by 33. Kt-Kt5!, PxB; 34. QxR, etc.
33. QxKPch
Better than Kt-Kt5, for after Kt-Q4, 34. QxPch, the Black King finds a safe retreat at Kt2.
33. … K-B1 34. Kt-Kt5 Kt-Kt1 35. P-B4
in order to open the file for the Rook.
35. … R-K1 36. PxP R-K2 37. R-B1ch K-Kt2 38. P-R5 B-K1 39. P-R6ch K-R1
KtxP fails on account of Q-B6ch.
White takes all possible advantage from the position, but cannot bring home his attack, as Black has concentrated his forces for the defence. Black must still be careful to avoid a mate, e.g. QxQ?; 41. PxQ, RxP; 42. R-B7 or 4l. … R-Q2; 42. R-B8.
Here White could have tried QxQ and R-B8. There was then a permanent threat of RxB, e.g. 41. QxQ, PxQ; 42. R-B8, RxP; 43. Kt-B3, R-K2; 44. Kt-Kt5, etc. It seems as if Black would have to give up the piece again by 43. … R-R4 in order to win. White, however, would then have drawing chances, which would have been a fitting conclusion to this wonderful game.
41. … RxP 42. Q-Q7 R-K2 Resigns