Lasker, Emanuel VS Tarrasch, Siegbert 1908.09.15

Annotations

1. 4…Bb4 This line of defence, called the McCutcheon variation, was recommended for many years by Tarrasch as being the strongest. The most obvious continuation 5 P—K 5 leads to complications, and the final verdict has not yet been reached. After 5...P—K R 3, the best continuation is thought to be: 6 P x Kt, P x B; 7 P x P, R—Kt 1; 8 P—K R 4, P x P; 9 Q—R 5, Q—B 3; 10 Q x R P, Q x P. White has an easy development, whilst Black, as in most variations in the French defence, finds it difficult to bring his Q B into play. After P—K R 3, it is not advisable to retire the Bishop; 6 B—R 4, P—K Kt 4; 7 B—Kt 3, for here the Bishop is out of play, and Black's King's Knight being free can play to K 5 for concerted action with Black's K B. Lasker's continuation in the present instance is at once simple and effective. It leads to an entirely different system of development.
2. 5…Qxd5 If Black recaptures with the pawn, he must lose a move with the Bishop in order to avoid getting an isolated doubled pawn after 6 Q—B 3. The doubled pawn which Black may get after the move in the text would not be isolated, and therefore not necessarily weak. It could become a weakness if Black were to castle on the King's side. But otherwise it might even become a source of strength, supporting, as it would, an advance of Black's K P against the White centre.
3. 6…c5 Black should retain the option of castling Q R, in case White exchanges at his K B 6; P—Q Kt 3 and B—Kt 2 would have been better.
4. 12…Qb6 Guarding against the mate at Q 1 before moving the Kt. But this would have been better effected by Q—K 2. After Q—Kt 3 the Knight cannot move yet because of B—Kt 5 ch.
5. 17.Qe2 Black wishes to push on the K P. White, however, prevents this at once.
6. 18…Bb7 The Black position has any number of weaknesses. The King cannot castle into safety; the pawn position is full of holes, and open to attack. White takes full advantage of this and wins in masterly fashion with a few strokes.
7. 20…Rb8 Now White cannot capture the Kt P because of B x Kt. But he does not want the pawn, he wants the King.
8. 25.Qd6 Mate in two was threatened (B—B 6 ch, etc.).

Edward Lasker, Chess Strategy (1921) · Public domain · source