Friday, February 22, 2008

Marshall-Schlechter, Ostende 1907


A game which illustrates the dangers of symmetry and the value of the initiative.

Marshall – Schlechter

Ostend 1907

D28 QUEEN’S GAMBIT ACCEPTED

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e3 Nf6 4. Bxc4 e6 5. Nf3 a6 6. 0-0 c5 7. Nc3 Qc7 8. Qe2 Nc6 9. a3 b5 10. Ba2 Bb7 11. dxc5 Bxc5 12. b4 Bd6 13. Bb2 0-0 14. Rac1 Qe7

As a result of the inaccurate 7. ... Qc7, Black must lose time.

15. Bb1 Rac8

Better was 15. ... Ne5, with the tactical point that 16. Nxe5 Bxe5 17. Nxb5 leads only to a draw after 17. ... Bxb2 18. Rc7 Qe8 19. Nd6 Qd8 20. Rxb7 Qxd6 21. Qxb2 Qc6, with “perpetual check” on the Rook.

16. Ne4 Nxe4 17. Bxe4 f5 18. Bb1 e5 19. Rfd1 e4

Opening too many lines, and White’s more active Rooks suddenly become decisive. Necessary was 19. ... Bb8.

20. Ba2+ Kh8 21. Ng5! Qxg5

There was no other defense to the dual threats of 22. Qh5 (22. ... h6 23. Qg6 hxg5 24. Qh5 mate) and 22. Nf7+, winning the Exchange (that hanging Bishop on d6).

22. Rd6 Rfd8 23. h4!


(Diagram)


23. ... Qg4

Black is lost. Some clever variations pointed out by Marshall are i.) 23. ... Qxh4 24. Bxg7+! Kxg7 25. Qb2+ Kf8 26. Qh8+ Ke7 27. Re6+ Kd7 28. Qg7+ Ne7 29. Rd1+ Kc7 30. Qe5+ and mate next, and ii.) 23. ... Qe7 24. Re6 Qd7 25. h5 Qd2 26. h6! Qxe2 27. hxg7+ Kg8 28. Re8 mate.

24. Qd2 Rxd6 25. Qxd6 Rd8 26. Qc7 Ba8 27. Bb3 f4 28. Rxc6 Rf8 29. Qe7, Black resigns.

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