8. ...              P-QB4
9.  P-QB3           Kt-B3
10.  P-KB4           Q-K2
11.  Q-Q2            B-Q2
12.  Kt-B3           Castles KR
13.  B-Q3            P-B5
14.  B-B2            P-QKt4
15.  Castles KR      P-Kt2
16.  Q R-K1          P-QR4

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

Diag. 133

So far the game is easy to understand in the light of the remarks made on page 44, when treating of the openings.  The continuation shows in an instructive fashion that White’s attack is the more effective, being directed against the King’s side.

17.  P-B5!  KPxP

This sacrifice of a pawn in conjunction with a second sacrifice on the next move, produces a combination of rare beauty.

          18.  P-Kt4!!  PxP

If Black did not capture White would.  In either case the storming of the position by pawns achieves its object and the lines of attack are free for the pieces.

          19.  Kt-Kt5 P-Kt3

Now that White has made an opening for himself at KB6, the rest is easy. 19. ...  P-R3 is of no avail.  The sequel might have been:  20 Kt-R 7, KR-Q1; 21 Kt-B6ch, after which White wins after either PxKt; 22 QxP, or K-R1 KtxP.

          20.  R-B6 K-Kt2

Black gets no breathing space.  If P-R3, then 21 BxP.

21.  QR-KB1 B-K1 22.  Q-B4 Kt-Q1 23.  P-K6 R-R3 24.  Q-K5 K-R3 25.  QR-B5

Help!

25. ...  BPxP 26.  Kt-B7ch QxKt 27.  R-R5ch K-Kt2 28.  RxKtP mate

Game No. 23

White:  Yates.  Black:  Esser.

French Defence.

1.  P-K4 P-K3 2.  P-Q4 P-Q4 3.  Kt-QB3 Kt-KB3 4.  B-Kt5 PxP 5.  BxKt PxB

If the Queen recaptures, White obtains too great an advantage in development, and therefore Black submits to the doubling of his pawns.  It is doubtful if this means a handicap, although the King’s side gets broken up.  For Black keeps his two Bishops, a powerful weapon, unless White succeeds in developing swiftly an attack on the King’s side.  The present game is instructive and shows the chances afforded to both sides by the position brought about by the exchange at KB6.