Chess Strategy · Chapter 9Game No. 1
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White: Tartakower. Black: Burn.
King’s Gambit declined (compare p. 30).
1. P-K4 P-K4 2. P-KB4 B-B4 3. Kt-KB3 P-Q3 4. PxP
On principle this exchange cannot be commended, as the opening of the Queen’s file increases the Black Queen’s mobility. White derives no benefit from the KB file so long as the Black Bishop makes castling impossible. White intends to play P-B3 and P-Q4, but the manœuvre is doubtful, and the whole opening includes an inordinately large number of pawn moves. In the present game Black exposes the failings inherent to this system unequivocally.
4. … PxP 5. P-B3 Kt-QB3
Black cannot put off White’s P-Q4 by B-KKt5, for White can give a check with the Queen and unpin the Knight.
6. P-QKt4
The object of this move is not clear, as P-Kt5 does not win a pawn (Kt-R4; 8. KtxP; 9. Q-R5ch). It does not promote development either, and only compromises the QBP and QKtP.
6. … B-Kt3 7. B-Kt5 Kt-B3
This is aimed at the White King’s pawn, which is deprived of its natural support by the QKt. In this position Black does well to attack White’s KP rather than to defend his own, because an open King’s file can only benefit him. Being able to castle, he can occupy the file with his Rook before White has time to bring his King into safety.
8. KtxP
It would have been better to protect the pawn by Q-K2 or P-Q3.
8. … Castles!
The beginning of a brilliant attack. Whether White exchanges the Bishop or the Knight, he is overwhelmed.
9. KtxKt
After 9. BxKt, PxB; 10. KtxP, Q-K1 wins; 10. P-Q4 would also lose because Black gains two pawns after KtxP; 11. O-O, KtxP. It is interesting to note how speedily the weakness at White’s QB3 is brought to book.
9. … PxKt 10. BxP KtxP!!
Now White can neither take the Kt nor the R. In the first case Q- R5ch forces mate very soon, in the second B-B7ch, followed by B- Kt5ch or B-R3ch, wins the Queen.
11. P-Q4 Q-B3! 12. BxKt Q-R5ch 13. K-Q2 QxB 14. Q-B3 Q-R5! 15. P-Kt3
Not QxR, because of Q-B7ch and the loss of the Queen by a discovered check by the Bishop.
Q-Kt4ch 16. Q-K3 Q-Q4 17. R-K1 B-Kt5 18. K-B2 P-QR4
Such is the price to pay for premature advances.
19. PxP RxP 20. B-R3 P-QB4
Black shatters White’s pawn position, and his Bishops and Rooks have full play along open files and diagonals.
21. PxP RxB! 22. KtxR
or PxB, RxRPch; 23. RxR,QxRch; 24. K-Bl,B-B4.
22. … BxP
The rest speaks for itself.
23. Q-K5 B-B4ch 24. K-Kt2 Q-Kt2ch 25. K-B1 BxKtch 26. K-Q2 R-Q1ch 27. K-K3 R-Q6ch 28. K-B2 Q-B6ch 29. K-Kt1 R-Q7 30. Q-Kt8ch B-KB1 Resigns.