Chapter XV: Part II: Illustrative Games From Master Tournaments (5)

It has been tried to refute White’s non-developing first move by a pawn sacrifice: 1. ... P-K4; which leads to a rapid mobilisation of the Black forces after 2. PxP, P-Q3; 3. PxP, BxP. But this attack--called the From Gambit--does not seem to prevail against the best defence. In a match game, Tartakower-Spielmann (Vienna, 1913), White won as follows:

4. Kt-KB3, P-KKt4; 5. P-Q4, P-Kt5; 6. Kt-K5, Kt-QB3; 7. KtxKt, PxKt; 8. P-KKt3, P-KR4; 9. B-Kt2, P-R5; 10. Q-Q3, B-Q2; 11. Kt- B3, R-Kt1; 12. Castles, PxP; 13. PxP, P-QB4; 14. B-B4, BxB; 15. RxB, Q-Kt4; 16. Kt-K4, Q-R3; 17. KtxP, Kt-B3; 18. KtxB, KtxKt; 19. Q-K4ch, K-Q1; 20. RxBP, R-K1; 21. QxP, Q-K6ch; 22. K-B1, Resigns.

When Black plays P-KB4 in answer to 1. P-Q4 we have the Dutch Defence. After 1. P-Q4, P-KB4, White can also sacrifice a pawn by 2. P-K4, and thereby obtain a far more favourable position than Black does in From’s gambit, as he is a move to the good, having already advanced his QP, e.g. 2. P-K4, PxP; 3. Kt-QB3, Kt-KB3; 4. P-B3 or 4. B-Kt5 and then P-B3. If Black captures the KBP, White obtains a powerful attack. A drastic example is found in the following little game, played by two students in an academic tournament at Petrograd: 4. P-B3, PxP; 5. KtxP, P-K3; 6. B-KKt5, B-K2; 7. B-Q3, Castles; 8. Castles, P-QKt3; 9. Kt-K5, B-Kt2; 10. BxKt, BxB; 11. BxPch, KxB; 12. Q-R5ch, K-Kt1; 13. Kt-Kt6, R-K1; 14. Q-R8ch, K-B2; 15. Kt-K5ch, K-K2; 16. QxPch!!, BxQ; 17. R- B7ch, K-Q3; 18. Kt-Kt5ch, K-Q4; 19. P-B4ch, K-K5; 20. R-K1 mate.

Black’s best answer is to play P-Q4 after White’s 4. P-KB3 (5. B-Kt5, B-B4). If 4. B-Kt5, it is not yet possible to play P-Q4 because of the threat: BxKt, Q-R5ch, and QxQP. In that case Black must first play P-QB3, after which White again obtains a strong attack by P-KB3.

Black can avoid the attacks which follow after 1. P-Q4, P-KB4; 2. P-K4, by playing P-K3 on his first move, and then lead into the Dutch defence with P-KB4 on his second move. He must, however, reckon with having to play the French defence which White can bring about with 2. P-K4.

2. P-K3 P-K3
3. Kt-KB3 P-QB4
4. P-QKt3 Kt-QB3
5. B-Kt5 Kt-B3

Black should have played B-Q2 here, as White can exchange at B6, leaving Black with a doubled pawn. This in itself is not a drawback, but in the present position it is serious, as Black will have difficulty in finding a place for his QB. For there is no prospect of enforcing P-K4, as White commands that square in sufficient force.

6. B-Kt2 B-K2
7. Castles Castles
8. BxQKt PxB
9. Kt-K5 Q-B2
10. P-Q3 P-QR4

Black’s attempt of capturing his K4 by playing Kt-Q2 and P-B3, White would cross at once with Q-Kt4. With the text move Black begins operations on the Q side, which is quite correct, as White has the upper hand on the other wing.

11. Q-K2

White should have prevented the further advance of the Black RP by 11. P-QR4. This would have been sound policy in any case, as the R file could not have been forced open for the Black Rooks.

11. ... P-R5
12. Kt-Q2 PxP

Premature. The capture is only of value if the file can be held. To that end it is first necessary to play B-Kt2 and to occupy the R file with Rooks and Queen. After the exchange of Rooks, Black is at a disadvantage for the end-game because of the inefficiency of the QB.

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8 | #R | | #B | | | #R | #K | |
|---------------------------------------|
7 | | | #Q | | #B | #P | #P | #P |
|---------------------------------------|
6 | | | #P | | #P | #Kt| | |
|---------------------------------------|
5 | | | #P | #P | ^Kt| | | |
|---------------------------------------|
4 | | | | | | ^P | | |
|---------------------------------------|
3 | | #P | | ^P | ^P | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
2 | ^P | ^B | ^P | ^Kt| ^Q | | ^P | ^P |
|---------------------------------------|
1 | ^R | | | | | ^R | ^K | |
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A B C D E F G H

Diag. 165

If instead of the text move Black had driven off the Bishop to B1 with P-R6 (13. B-B3?, P-Q5!; 14. PxP, Kt-Q4) he could have enforced his P-K4, but in the long run White would have captured the QRP, and remained with a passed pawn on the R file, a powerful weapon for the end-game, e.g. l2. ... P-R6; 13. B-B1, Kt-Q2; 14. KtxKt, BxKt; 15. P-K4, P-KB3; 16. P-B4, followed by Kt-Kt1.

13. RPxP RxR
14. RxR B-Kt2
15. P-KKt4

The Black pieces being cut off from the K side, White is free to attack.

15. ... R-R1
16. RxRch BxR
17. P-Kt5 Kt-Q2
18. Q Kt-B3 KtxKt
19. BxKt Q-R4
20. P-B4

in order to prevent the release of the B by the pawn sacrifice P- B5 and P-B4.

20. ... B-Kt2
21. K-B2 K-B1
22. P-R4 B-R3
23. P-R5 B-Kt2
24. P-R6 P-Kt3

By advancing his RP White has weakened Black’s KB3, with the constant threat of establishing his Kt there and of capturing the RP.

25. K-B1

This move is superfluous and probably dictated by time pressure. The proper plan is: Q-QKt2 with the threat of B-B7 or Kt8 and Q- R8ch.

25. ... Q-R6
26. Q-QKt2

The end-game is a clear win for White. He plays his Kt to KKt4, threatening to reach B6 or K5. The effect is twofold.

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8 | | | | | | #K | | |
|---------------------------------------|
7 | | #B | | | #B | #P | | #P |
|---------------------------------------|
6 | | | #P | | #P | | #P | ^P |
|---------------------------------------|
5 | | | #P | #P | ^B | | ^P | |
|---------------------------------------|
4 | | | ^P | | | ^P | | |
|---------------------------------------|
3 | #Q | ^P | | ^P | ^P | ^Kt| | |
|---------------------------------------|
2 | | ^Q | | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
1 | | | | | | ^K | | |
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A B C D E F G H

Diag. 166

Black must keep his B at K2 and his K must remain near the KBP. White’s King marches to QKt6 and captures the QB pawns, queening his QKtP. Black cannot prevent the White King from doing this by B-Q1, as White, by attacking Black’s QB4 with his B, could at any time force the B back to his K2. The remainder of the game needs no comment.

26. ... QxQ
27. BxQ B-Q3
28. Kt-R2 K-K1
29. Kt-Kt4 B-K2
30. B-K5 K-Q2
31. K-K2 K-K1
32. K-Q2 K-Q2
33. K-B2 K-K1
34. K-Kt2 K-Q2
35. K-R3 K-K1
36. K-R4 K-Q2
37. B-Kt8 K-B1
38. B-R7 K-Q2
39. B-Kt6 P-Q5
40. P-K4 K-K1
41. P-K5 K-Q2
42. Kt-B2 Resigns.

because there follows Kt-K4 and BxP.

GAME No. 48

White: Blackburne. Black: Niemzowitsch.

Irregular Opening.

1. P-K3 P-Q3

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.

5. P-K4

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.

19. P-QR3

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?

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8 | | | | | #R | #B | | #K |
|---------------------------------------|
7 | | | | #Q | | | | #P |
|---------------------------------------|
6 | | | #Kt| | #B | #P | #P | |
|---------------------------------------|
5 | | | #P | | #P | ^Kt| ^P | |
|---------------------------------------|
4 | | #P | ^P | | ^P | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
3 | | | | ^P | ^B | ^Q | | |
|---------------------------------------|
2 | #R | ^P | | ^R | | ^Kt| | ^P |
|---------------------------------------|
1 | | | | | | ^R | ^K | |
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A B C D E F G H

Diag. 167

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.

37. R-K2 Q-Q2
38. R-K6 B-R1

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.

TABLE OF OPENINGS

A. KING’S PAWN GAMES

a. 1. P-K4 P-K4
2. P-KB4 PxP
2. ... B-B4
2. ... P-Q4
2. P-Q4 PxP 3. QxP
3. Kt-KB3 P-QB4
3. ... Kt-QB3
3. B-QB4
3. P-QB3 PxP
3. ... P-Q4
2. Kt-KB3 Kt-QB3 3. P-Q4 PxP 4. KtxP
4. B-QB4
4. P-B3
3. B-B4 B-B4 4. P-Q3
4. P-B3
3. ... Kt-B3
3. Kt-B3 Kt-B3
3. ... B-Kt5
3. B-Kt5 P-Q3 4. P-Q4
3. ... Kt-B3 4. Castle P-Q3
4. ... KtxP
3. ... P-QR3 4. B-R4 Kt-B3 5. Castle B-K2
5. ... KtxP

4. BxKt QPxB 5. KtxP
5. P-Q4
2. ... P-Q3 3. P-Q4 QKt-Q2
2. Kt-QB3 Kt-KB3 3. P-B4 P-Q4

b. 1. P-K4 P-K3
2. P-Q4 P-Q4 3. P-K5
3. Kt-QB3 Kt-KB3 4. P-K5
4. B-Kt5 B-K2
4. ... B-Kt5
3. ... PxP
1. P-K4 P-Q4 2. PxP QxP
1. P-K4 P-QB3 2. P-Q4 P-Q4
1. P-K4 P-QB4

B. QUEEN’S PAWN GAMES

a. 1. P-Q4 P-Q4
2. P-QB4 PxP
2. ... P-K3 3. KtQB3 KtKB3
3. ... PQB4 4. PK3
4. Kt-KB3 Kt-QB3 5. PxQP
2. ... P--K4
2. ... B-B4
2. ... P-QB3
2. Kt-KB3 P-K3 3. P-B4 PxP
3. ... P-QB4
3. ... Kt-KB3
2. ... P-QB4 3. P-B4 P-K3 4. P-K3
4. Kt-B3 Kt-QB3
3. P-K3 P-K3 4. B-Q3 Kt-KB3 5. P-QKt3
3. P-B3
2. ... Kt-KB3

b. 1. P-Q4 P-QB4
1. P-Q4 Kt-KB3 2. Kt-KB3 P-Q3
1. P-Q4 P-KB4

C. IRREGULAR OPENINGS

1. P-QB4
1. P-KB4 P-Q4
1. ... P-K4
1. P-K3 P-Q3