37. ...  P-R5
38.  RxP P-R6
Resigns.

After R-R5 there follows P-R7 and R-Kt8ch, or (if 40.  K-R 2) P-B6.

Game No. 20

White:  Eduard Lasker.  Black:  Englund.

Four Knights’ Game.

1.  P-K4 P-K4 2.  Kt-KB3 Kt-QB3 3.  Kt-B3 Kt-B3 4.  B-Kt5 Kt-Q5 5.  KtxP

Black can now get White’s KP by playing Q-K2, and moreover exchange White’s valuable Bishop.  Instead of the move in the text it is advisable to retire the Bishop to R4 or B4, or else to play 5.  KtxKt, PxKt; 6.  P-K5, PxKt; 7.  PxKt.  Black would then play QxP and not PxQPch, as the latter move allows White to develop quickly, and Black has no time to castle—­e.g. 8.  BxP, QxP; 9.  Castles, B-K2; 10.  B-B3, followed by R-K1.

5. ...               Q-K2
6.  Kt-B3            KtxP?

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

Diag. 131.

Here KtxB was essential, followed by QxP, freeing the Bishop.  After 7.  KtxKt, QxPch; 8.  Q-K2, QxQch; 9.  KxQ, Kt-Q4 (10.  P-B4, P-QR3), Black completes his development a little later (10.  R-K1, P-KB3; 11.  K-B1ch, K-B2), but after the exchange of Queens there is not much to fear from an immediate attack, and the value of the two Bishops soon asserts itself.  In a match game Ed. Lasker-Cole (London, 1913) the continuation was 12.  P-Q4, P-QR3; 13.  Kt-B3, KtxKt; 14.  PxKt, P-Q4.  Here the doubled pawn is a disadvantage, in that the pawn at B2 is immobile, and constantly liable to be attacked by B-B4.  P-Q3 was the better move.

7.  Castles KtxKt

Now KtxB was no longer possible.  After KtxQKt there would be threats of KtxBP as well as of R-K1 and P-Q3.  The game is almost lost for Black at this stage, as the King cannot escape the impending attack on the K file by castling.

8.  QPxKt KtxKtch
9.  QxKt Q-B4
10.  R-K1ch B-K2
11.  B-Q3

prevents castling, as Q-K4 would win a piece.

11. ...  P-Q4
12.  B-K3

White has the development of the B gratis, as Black must lose time with the Queen.

12. ...  Q-Q3
13.  B-KB4 Q-KB3
14.  QxP!!