10. ...  Q-Q2
11.  Kt-Q5

In view of the fact that his game is so much more developed, and that the opposing King will hardly be able to escape from the centre of the board, White decides to sacrifice a Knight in order to open the files in the centre for his Rooks, instead of following the simple line indicated in the previous note.

11. ...  PxKt 12.  BxP Q-K2ch 13.  B-K3 R-Kt1 14.  Castles KR

Castles QR is stronger still, as the QR gets into action at once.

14. ...                B-KKt2
15.  B-KB4             R-Kt3
16.  B-B6ch            RxB

If B-Q2, the continuation might have been:  17.  BxB, QxB; 18.  QR-Q1, Q-Kt2; 19.  KR-K1ch, Kt-K2; 20.  RxKtch, KxR; 21.  BxPch, etc.; or 18. ...  Q-B1; 19.  BxP, etc.

After 17.  R-K1 Black could have held out a little longer with B-B3.  After the text move, however, Black’s game collapses quickly before the concentrated onslaught of the White forces.

17.  QxRch Q-Q2 18.  Q R-K1ch Kt-K2 19.  RxKtch!  KxR 20.  R-K1ch K-B1 21.  BxPch K-Kt1 22.  R-K8ch B-B1 23.  RxBch K-Kt2 24.  Q-B3ch Resigns.

Game No. 32

White:  Ed. Lasker.  Black:  Mieses.

Centre Counter Defence.

1.  P-K4             P-Q4
2.  PxP              Kt-KB3

This is to tempt White to play P-QB4, a weak move (see p. 35).  By playing P-QB3 Black would obtain by far the better game in exchange for the pawn.

3.  P-Q4 QxP

KtxP can also be played.  In either case White wins a move by driving off the Black piece by Kt-QB3 or P-QB4.  Furthermore, White has a pawn in the centre.  Black’s plan in retaking with the Queen might be to castle early on the Queen’s side and attack White’s centre pawn by P-K4, and White must be on the alert against this plan, though it will not be easy for Black to put the same into execution, because of the exposed position of his Queen.  After 4.  Kt-QB3, Q-QR4 is the only move which brings the Queen into momentary security, and even then Black must provide for a retreat, as after White’s B-Q2 there would be a threat of an advantageous “discovery” by the Kt.  P-QB3 provides such a retreat, but it bars the QKt from its natural development at B3, where the Kt could exert further pressure on White’s Q4.  The QB, too, is difficult to get into play and easily becomes an object of attack, as in the present game.

4.  Kt-QB3          Q-QR4
5.  Kt-B3           B-B4

B-Kt5 would only help White’s intentions to attack on the King’s side in the absence of Black’s Queen, e.g. 6.  P-KR3, B-R4; 7.  P-KKt4, B-Kt3; 8.  Kt-K5 (threatening Kt-B4), P-B3; 9.  P-KR4, Q Kt-Q2; 10.  Kt-B4, Q-B2; 11.  P-R5, B-K5; 12.  KtxB, KtxKt; 13.  Q-B3 and B-B4 with the superior game.