3.g3Speedy development by Kt—B 3 and P—Q 4 is more desirable, as otherwise Black may have time to get a firm footing at his Q 5.
4.Bg2The Black Bishop is the more effective, as the line of the White Bishop is masked by the K P. Small as this advantage would seem, it becomes serious later on. It is another confirmation of the doctrine that the value of each manœuvre in the opening depends on the measure of mobility it affords for the pieces.
7…Bd7in order to play Q—B 1 and B—R 6 and to exchange Bishops, after which there would be weak points at White's K R 3 and K B 3.
9…h6Black also prevents an exchange of Bishops.
11…Ne8The position has now become exceedingly difficult. In order to make the most of the favourable development of his K B, Black must advance on the Queen's side. But in moving his King's side pieces over to the Queen's side, Black must proceed warily, as White might get chances of an attack while overwhelming forces on the King's side.
13.Ng3Here it was necessary to play R—B 2 in order to play the Q R to K B 1 before Black could manage to drive the Kt to Q 1 by P—Q Kt 4-5.
14.Nd1It would still have been better to play Q R—K 1 and to leave the Queen's side to itself as long as possible after P—Kt 5, 15 Kt—Q 1, in order to start an assault on the King's side while P—B 5, P—K R 4, and P—Kt 5. After the text move the Queen's Rook remains shut in.
15.Ne2in order to play P—B 3 and P—Q 4. The whole plan, however, is inconsequent, as he has started an attack on the King's side. Now he suddenly opens up files on the Queen's side where Black has assembled superior forces. The result is that White gets into trouble on both wings, for as soon as he gives up his King's side attack, the advanced pawns there, as one knows, are only a source of weakness.
21.d5This shuts in the White K B altogether, and at the same time opens the diagonal of Black's K B. Therefore, on principle alone the move is questionable. In effect it gives Black an opportunity for a beautiful winning combination. Only P—K 5 was worth considering, as then the opposing Bishop would have been shut in and White's own diagonal opened.
21…Nb4Although three minor pieces are generally an equivalent for the Queen, in this case the White game collapses quickly. The advanced pawns have produced too many weak points which afford an entry for the Black forces.
27.Re2B—R 5 was threatened. But the text move is of no avail either. Black winds up the game while another fine combination.
Edward Lasker, Chess Strategy (1921) · Public domain · source