24.  RxP QR-B1 25.  P-QKt3 R-B7 26.  P-QR4 B-K7 27.  Kt-R4!  P-KR4

The KtP cannot be saved.

28.  KKtxP    R-K1
29.  RxPch    Resigns.

Game No. 43

White:  Capablanca.  Black:  Bernstein.

      Queen’s Gambit Declined.

1.  P-Q4 P-Q4 2.  Kt-KB3 Kt-KB3 3.  P-B4 P-K3 4.  Kt-B3 QKt-Q2 5.  B-Kt5 B-K2 6.  P-K3 P-B3 7.  B-Q3 PxP

Before initiating this manoeuvre, which aims at the development of the Queen’s wing, Black should castle, as otherwise the King is exposed to dangerous and immediate attacks in the centre.

8.  BxBP      P-Kt4
9.  B-Q3      P-QR3

The system of opening chosen by Black has been tried frequently of late.  It seems to be somewhat artificial, as the QB Pawn takes two moves to get to his fourth.  On the other hand the pawn formation at QR3, QKt4, and QB4 is attained, whilst it can be prevented in other variations, e.g. 6. ...  Castles; 7.  B-Q3, PxP; 8.  BxP, P-QR3; 9 P-QR4.

          10.  P-K4 P-K4

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

Diag. 161

Black’s only plausible move here seems to be P-B4, and many critics have remarked that after 11.  P-K5, PxP!; 12.  Kt-K4 (if PxKt, PxKt) KtxKt; 13.  BxKt, R-QKt1; 14.  BxB, QxB; 15.  QxP, Q-B4; the game would have been even.  However, this is not the case, for on the 15th move White does not capture the pawn with the Q but with the Kt and Black has no satisfactory continuation.  If he had castled he could play l5. ...  B-Kt2 which now is not available because of:  16.  Kt-B6, BxKt; 17.  BxB, with an overwhelming advantage in position for White.  White’s refutation of the text move is above criticism.

11.  PxP       Kt-Kt5
12.  B-KB4     B-B4

If Q-B2, White would play R-B1, after which Black could not recapture the KP yet, as the QBP is en prise. 13. ...  KKtxP; 14.  KtxKt, KtxKt; 15.  Kt-Q5, Q-Q3; 16.  BxKt, QxB; 19.  RxP, etc.

13.  Castles   Q-B2
14.  R-B1      P-B3

Again KtxP is not feasible on account of the loss of the QBP, as can be easily seen.

          15.  B-Kt3 PxP