23. ...               Kt-Kt3
24.  R-R3             Resigns

There is no answer to Q-Kt5 and RxP.

Game no. 37

White:  Marshall.  Black:  Capablanca.

Queen’s Gambit Declined (see p. 52).

1.  P-Q4 P-Q4 2.  P-QB4 P-K3 3.  Kt-QB3 Kt-KB3 4.  B-Kt5 B-K2 5.  P-K3 Kt-K5

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

Diag. 150

Lasker has played this move successfully in his match against Marshall; but it has not come into general use.  White should get the better game by 6.  BxB, QxB; 7.  Q-B2, KtxKt; 8.  QxKt or 7.  PxP, KtxKt; 8.  PxKt, PxP; 9.  Q-Kt3, in the first case because the Black QB is out of play, in the second case because of the open Kt file. 7.  KtxKt is bad, because PxKt prevents the natural development of the KKt at B3, and Black can obtain an attack after castling by P-KB4-5.

          6.  BxB QxB
          7.  B-Q3

This also is a good move, as it furthers development.

7. ...            KtxKt
8.  PxKt          PxP

Giving up the centre pawn in this case is not against the spirit of the opening, as it opens the only diagonal on which the Black QB can operate.

 9.  BxP P-QKt3

10.  Q-B3 P-QB3
11.  Kt-K2 B-Kt2
12.  Castles KR Castles
13.  P-QR4

This move can only be good if White intends to operate on the Queen’s side, possibly by KR-Kt1 and P-R5.  But the position of the White Queen makes the adoption of a different plan compulsory.  For one thing, it is rational to concentrate forces where the Queen can take her share, therefore, in this case, on the King’s side.  On the other hand, the manoeuvre referred to could not be put into execution here because Black can prevent P-R5 by P-QB4 and Kt-B3.  A fairly obvious course was to play P-K4, taking possession of the centre.  P-QB4 would then be answered by P-Q5, after which the White Rooks would be very effective at Q1 and K1.  In this game White does initiate a King’s side attack subsequently, and thus 13. ...  P-QR4 is clearly a lost move.

13. ...           P-QB4
14.  Q-Kt3        Kt-B3
15.  Kt-B4        QR-B1

The tempting move of P-K4 cannot be played because of 16.  Kt-Q5, Q-Q1; 17.  PxBP, Kt-R4; 18.  KR-Q1.  The move in the text threatens PxP, KtxP and RxB.