FROM A GAME FR. LAZARD-ED. LASKER (PARIS, 1914)

Here the pawn positions on both sides are broken, and the player that occupies the open files first, gets a decisive advantage.  In this case it is Black’s move.  We can conclude at once that White has played the opening badly.  He must have lost two moves, for he has still to capture the BP and then, being White, it should be his move.  This disadvantage, small as it may seem, with which White has emerged from the opening, is sufficient to bring him into the greatest difficulties.  Black, of course, does not defend the pawn by B-Kt2 or B-Q2, as this would practically reduce the B to a P and, moreover, White, by R-Kt1 or Q1, would both attack the B and obtain an open file.  Instead of that, Black utilises the two moves, which he has, as it were, as a gift in an otherwise equalised position, to bring both Rooks on the Kt file.  This policy allows Black to occupy the seventh or eighth rank at will, and to attack the White pawns from the flank or rear, according to circumstances.  This menace hampers the radius of action of the White pieces, as they must always be ready for the defence of the threatened pawns, and this gives Black by far the superior game.

The play was continued as follows:  1. ...  R-Kt1; 2.  BxP, R-Kt7; 3.  B-K4, B-K3; 4.  P-QR3, KR-Kt1.  The Knight’s file is now definitely in Black’s hands.  White could occupy the Queen’s file, but the Black B at K3, which prevents the entry of the Rooks at Q7, makes the operation aimless.  Therefore White is condemned to inactivity.  On the contrary, Black’s line of action is clear.  His entry on the seventh can only achieve something if White’s QBP can be deprived of its support.  To do this Black has only to play P-QB4-B5 and P-KB4.  This, of course, weakens Black’s KB, and the White Rooks might obtain an entry on the K file.  Therefore Black will effect a timely exchange of one of his Rooks, after which his King alone will hold the K file.  These considerations make the following moves clear:  5.  KR-K1, P-QB4; 6.  P-KR3, a further awkward necessity in positions of this kind.  Before the Rook can venture out, a loophole must be provided for the King.

6. ...  P-B5; 7.  R-K3, R-Kt8ch; 8.  RxR, RxRch; 9.  K-R2, P-B4; 10.  B-B3, K-B2; 11.  B-K2 (threatening R-QB3), R-Kt2; 12.  R-QB3, K-B3 (now BxP is not feasible on account of R-QB2); 13.  P-B4.  White wishes to keep the Black King from his Q5 but cannot do so permanently.  Black, however, can occupy the Q file with his Rook, and confine the White King to his wing. 13. ...  R-Q2; 14.  K-Kt3) R-Q5; 15.  K-B3, K-K2; 16.  R-K3, K-Q3; 17.  K-Kt3, R-Q7; 18.  P-B3, B-B2.  R-R7 would be a mistake on account of RxBch, but the QRP cannot escape. 19.  P-QR4, P-Kt3; 20.  B-B3, R-R7; 21.  B-Q1, B-Q4; 22.  R-K2, R-R8; 23.  R-Q2, R-R6; 24.  R-QB2, RxRP.  Now at last Black has obtained material gain, which was made possible by his command of the open Kt file.  To convert it into a win by queening the extra pawn is only a matter of time.