19. ...  QR-K2 20.  P-QKt4 K-B2 21.  P-QR3 B-R1 22.  K-B2 R-R2 23.  P-Kt4 P-R3 24.  R-Q3 P-QR4 25.  P-KR4 PxP 26.  PxP R(R2)-K2

There are no prospects on the Rook’s file, and Black is restricted to keeping his pieces mutually protected.  He cannot prevent White from penetrating the King’s side.

27.  K-B3 R-Kt1 28.  K-B4 P-Kt3 29.  R-Kt3 P-Kt4ch 30.  K-B3

If Black captures the pawn, he would lose it again forthwith through White’s R-R3, and the pawn at R3 would also be captured.

30. ...  Kt-Kt3 31.  PxP RPxP 32.  R-R3 R-Q2 33.  K-Kt3

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

Diag. 127

The White King leaves the diagonal because Black’s P-B4 would interfere with the combination by which White intends to annihilate Black’s game in a few moves.

33. ...  K-K1
34.  QR-KR1 B-Kt2
35.  P-K5!!

A beautiful final stroke.

35. ...                  QPxP
36.  Kt-K4!!              Kt-Q4
37.  Kt(K6)-B5           B-B1

Black dares not move the Rook on account of KtxB and Kt-Q6ch.

38.  KtxR BxKt 39.  R-R7ch R-B1 40.  R-R1 K-Q1 41.  R-R8ch B-B1 42.  Kt-B5 Resigns

Mate in two is threatened.  Black’s only move is Kt-K2, after which he is helpless, and White can capture the pawns one by one at his leisure (R-B7, etc.).  In this game, so beautifully engineered by White, we have a further example of Lasker’s remarkable grasp of position.

Game No. 19

White:  Eduard Lasker.  Black:  Janowski.

Four Knights’ Game.

1.  P-K4 P-K4 2.  Kt-KB3 Kt-QB3 3.  Kt-B3 Kt-B3 4.  B-Kt5 B-Kt5

B-K2; 5 Castles, P-Q3; would lead into the Ruy Lopez.

5.  Castles       Castles
6.  P-Q3          P-Q 3

It is, of course, better to castle before playing P-Q3, as the opponent could at once play Kt-Q5 and utilise the pin to initiate an immediate attack, e.g. 5.  Castles, P-Q3; 6.  Kt-Q5, B-B4; 7.  P-Q4, PxP; 8.  B-Kt5.