Chess Strategy · Chapter 51Game No. 43
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White: Capablanca. Black: Bernstein.
Queen’s Gambit Declined.
1. P-Q4 P-Q4 2. Kt-KB3 Kt-KB3 3. P-B4 P-K3 4. Kt-B3 QKt-Q2 5. B-Kt5 B-K2 6. P-K3 P-B3 7. B-Q3 PxP
Before initiating this manœuvre, which aims at the development of the Queen’s wing, Black should castle, as otherwise the King is exposed to dangerous and immediate attacks in the centre.
8. BxBP P-Kt4 9. B-Q3 P-QR3
The system of opening chosen by Black has been tried frequently of late. It seems to be somewhat artificial, as the QB Pawn takes two moves to get to his fourth. On the other hand the pawn formation at QR3, QKt4, and QB4 is attained, whilst it can be prevented in other variations, e.g. 6. … Castles; 7. B-Q3, PxP; 8. BxP, P-QR3; 9 P-QR4.
Black’s only plausible move here seems to be P-B4, and many critics have remarked that after 11. P-K5, PxP!; 12. Kt-K4 (if PxKt, PxKt) KtxKt; 13. BxKt, R-QKt1; 14. BxB, QxB; 15. QxP, Q-B4; the game would have been even. However, this is not the case, for on the 15th move White does not capture the pawn with the Q but with the Kt and Black has no satisfactory continuation. If he had castled he could play l5. … B-Kt2 which now is not available because of: 16. Kt-B6, BxKt; 17. BxB, with an overwhelming advantage in position for White. White’s refutation of the text move is above criticism.
11. PxP Kt-Kt5 12. B-KB4 B-B4
If Q-B2, White would play R-B1, after which Black could not recapture the KP yet, as the QBP is en prise. 13. … KKtxP; 14. KtxKt, KtxKt; 15. Kt-Q5, Q-Q3; 16. BxKt, QxB; 19. RxP, etc.
13. Castles Q-B2 14. R-B1 P-B3
Again KtxP is not feasible on account of the loss of the QBP, as can be easily seen.
15. B-Kt3 PxP
Black’s game cannot be saved. If l5. … Kt(Kt5)xKP there follows 16. KtxKt, KtxKt; 17. Kt-Q5, Q-Q3; 18. BxKt, PxB; 19. RxB, or 16. … PxKt; 17. Q-R5ch, P-Kt3, 18. Q-R6.
16. P-Kt4!
Now White initiates a brilliant attack, driving it home without giving Black a moment’s rest. If Black takes the pawn, White plays Kt-Q4, with many threats, e.g. P-B4; 18. Kt-Q5, Q-Q3; 19. Kt-K6, or l7. … Kt(Kt5)-B3; 18. Kt-K6, etc.
16. … B-R2 17. BxKtP
The sacrifice is fairly obvious, as White obtains three pawns for the piece, and moreover drives the King into the field of battle. However, this does not detract from the beauty of the game, which is full of brilliant phases.
17. … RPxB 18. KtxKtP Q-Q1
Or Q-Kt3; 19. Kt-Q6ch, K-K2; 20. Kt-B5ch, followed by Q-Q6.
19. Kt-Q6ch K-B1 20. RxP Kt-Kt3
The threat was: 21. Q-Q5, Kt-R3; 22. KtxB, RxKt; 23. R-Q6, etc. 20. … Kt(Q2)-B3 is of no avail because of 21. Q-Kt3, Kt-R3; 22. KtxP, or 21. … Q-Q2; 22. KR-B1, etc.
21. B-R4 Q-Q2 22. KtxB! QxR
Not RxKt because of 23. QxQ. Now Black is a whole Rook ahead. But it is as much out of play as his Queen’s side pieces. The King is driven into a mating net by the concentration of superior White forces, and only escapes by giving up the extra piece.
23. Q-Q8ch Q-K1 24. B-K7ch K-B2 25. Kt-Q6ch K-Kt3 26. Kt-R4ch K-R4
If K-R3 there follows mate in three by 27. Kt(Q6)-B5ch; 28. Kt- Kt3ch; 29. B-Kt5 mate.
27. KtxQ RxQ 28. KtxPch K-R3 29. Kt(Kt7)-B5ch K-R4 30. P-KR3!
This threatens 31. PxKtch, KxP; 32. P-B3ch, followed by P-Kt3 or Kt4 mate. If Black plays 30. QR-KKt1, White wins as follows: 31. PxKtch, RxP; 32. P-B3, Kt-B1ch; 33. K-R2, KtxB; 34. PxRch, KxP; 35. KtxKt, K x Kt; 36. R-B7. If 30. … Kt-R3; 31. Kt-Kt7 mate.
30. … Kt-B1 31. PxKtch KxP 32. BxR RxB 33. P-Kt3 R-Q7 34. K-Kt2 R-K7 35. P-R4 Kt-Kt3 36. Kt-K3ch K-R4 37. P-R5 Kt-Q2 38. Kt(R4)-B5 Kt-B3 39. P-Kt5 B-Q5 40. K-B3 R-R7 41. P-R6 B-R2 42. R-B1 R-Kt7 43. P-Kt4ch K-Kt4 44. R-B7 RxPch 45. KxR KtxKtPch 46. K-B3 Resigns.