31.  R-B7ch K-Q3 32.  RxKKtP P-Kt4 33.  B-Kt8 P-QR4 34.  RxP P-R5 35.  P-R4 P-Kt5 36.  R-R6ch K-B4 37.  R-R5ch K-Kt3 38.  B-Q5 P-Kt6

RxP is tempting but unavailing, as White plays B-B4 followed by R-Kt5ch and P-R5-6, etc.  After the text move White has a problem-like continuation, which he has worked out with great accuracy.

39.  PxP P-R6
40.  BxKt

If now P-R7, White simply plays 41.  R-Kt5ch, K-R3; 42.  R-Kt8-R8.

40. ...                 RxKtP
41.  B-Q5               P-R7
42.  R-R6ch             Resigns.

As the R holds the RP, e.g.  K-R4; 43.  B-B4 followed by R-R6ch or 42. ...  K-R2; 43.  R-R8, etc.

Game no. 41

White:  Niemzowitsch.  Black:  Tarrasch.

Queen’s Gambit Declined.

1.  P-Q4 P-Q4
2.  Kt-KB3 P-QB4
3.  P-B4 P-K3
4.  P-K3 Kt-KB3
5.  B-Q3 Kt-B3
6.  Castles B-Q3
7.  P-QKt3 Castles
8.  B-Kt2 P-QKt3
9.  QKt-Q2 B-Kt2
10.  R-B1 Q-K2
11.  PxQP

The most natural move to which the development of the QKt at Q2 instead of B3 would seem to lead is Kt-K5 followed by P-B4.  After 11.  Kt-K5 Black could not yet attempt 11. ...  PxQP; 12.  KPxP, B-R6, weakening the QP, because of 13.  BxB, QxB; 14.  PxP, KtxKt; 15.  PxKt, KtxP; 16.  Kt-B4 and Kt-Q6.

11. ...  KPxP
12.  Kt-R4

In order to provoke Black’s weakening move:  P-Kt3, which might give White chances of attack on the long diagonal QR1-KR8, White gives up two clear moves.  Black is able to get considerably ahead in his development, much to White’s disadvantage.

12. ...              P-Kt3
13.  KKt-B3          QR-Q sq

Not Kt-K5 yet, on account of 14.  PxP, PxP?; 15.  BxKt, PxB; 16.  KtxP.

14.  PxP

White’s position is uncomfortable, and a satisfactory continuation is hard to find.  Possibly passive resistance might have been the best plan, thus:  Q-K2, KR-Q1, Kt-B1-Kt3.  The text move is a preliminary to operations on the Queen’s side, but allows Black too much scope in the centre.

14. ...  PxP
15.  B-Kt5

White wishes to get rid of the Black Knight which supports the advance of P-Q5.

15. ...  Kt-K5
16.  BxKt BxB
17.  Q-B2

White has no idea of the threatened disaster, or he would have played P-KKt3.  Even then, however, Black has the better game with two Bishops, and the Q and Kt better placed.

          17. ...  KtxKt

The beginning of a brilliant mating combination.

          18.  KtxKt P-Q5!

Black would have played the same move if White had retaken with the Queen.