Chess Strategy · Chapter 56Game No. 48
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White: Blackburne. Black: Niemzowitsch.
Irregular Opening.
It is due to this reply of Black’s that the opening is irregular. For had he played P-Q4 a peaceful QP game would have resulted, or after White’s 2. P-KB4 a Dutch opening.
2. P-KB4 P-K4 3. PxP PxP
Black has the superior position; he has a pawn in the centre and his pieces are more free.
4. Kt-QB3 B-Q3
As was seen on a former occasion, it is a shade better to develop the Knights before the Bishops, as the choice of moves for the latter is less limited. The alternative might have been 5. Kt-B3, B-KKt5; 6. B-K2, Kt-B3.
Now White has also a pawn in the centre, but he is a move behind in his development.
5. … B-K3 6. Kt-B3 P-KB3 7. P-Q3 Kt-K2 8. B-K3 P-QB4 9. Q-Q2 QKt-B3 10. B-K2 Kt-Q5 11. Castles KR Castles 12. Kt-Q1 KKt-B3 13. P-B3
Now Black has gained an advantage from the command of his Q5. The advance of White’s QBP, which was necessitated by the dominating position of the Black Knight, has left White with a “backward” pawn at Q3.
13. … KtxBch 14. QxKt R-K1
If now a general exchange takes place after P-Q4, the KP is lost through B-Q4.
15. Kt-R4
White’s counter attack on the King’s side becomes threatening, and Black must continue his operations on the Queen’s wing with the greatest care, as he may be called upon at any time to concentrate his pieces for the defence of the King’s wing.
15. … B-KB1 16. Kt-B5 K-R1 17. P-KKt4 Q-Q2 18. Kt-B2 P-QR4
Black wishes to open up files on the Queen’s side.
Freeing the QR.
19. … P-QKt4 20. QR-Q1 QR-Kt1 21. R-Q2 P-Kt5 22. RPxP RPxP 23. P-B4 R-R1 24. Q-B3 R-R7
Before trying to push home his advantage on the Queen’s side, which is made possible by the weakness of White’s QP, Black should look after his King’s side, where White has collected an alarming array of forces. After the text move the Rook is quite out of play.
25. P-Kt5 P-Kt3?
Black should simply play PxP with the following continuation: 26. BxP, Kt-Q5; 27. KtxKt, QxKt; 28. B-K3, Q-Q3. After the move in the text, White’s attack is overwhelming.
26. Kt-Kt4!
White obtains a Rook and two pawns for his two Knights; this is in itself an equivalent of material. In the present instance the exchange is of decisive advantage for White, as Black must lose several moves to bring up his Rook for the defence of his unguarded King.
26. … PxKt 27. KtxBP Kt-Q5
If PxP, White wins by 28. Q-R5, Q-B2; 29. P-Kt6, QxPch; 30. QxQ and KtxR.
28. Q-B2 Q-B3 29. KtxR QxKt 30. BxKt KPxB 31. PxP B-Q2 32. R-K1 Q-B2 33. Q-R4! R-R1
Not BxP because of 34. R-KB2, followed by KR-KB sq.
34. R-KB2 B-B3 35. Q-Kt4
The threat is to open the Rook’s file by P-Kt6 with an attack on the King by the Rooks.
35. … R-K1 36. RxR QxR
BxR in order to play Q-R4 might be better. With the Queens off the board, Black has winning chances on account of his two Bishops. But then White might evade the exchange and proceed to seize the King’s file with the Rook after 37. Q-B4.
in order to play Q-QKt2 or R2.
39. P-Kt6! PxP
If Q-QKt2, 40. R-K8!, if Q-R2, 40. Q-R4. White wins in either case.
40. RxP Q-KR2 41. Q-Kt3
Threatens Q-K5ch.
41. … Q-R4 42. R-Kt4! Resigns.