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ANNOTATED GAME

Lodz, 1907
Georg Rotlewi vs. Akiba Rubinstein
Annotated by: aurelcablayan (1200)
Chess opening: Queen's pawn game (D02)
Interactive Show all comments All annotated games View chessboard as:
1. d4
Notes by Carl Schlechter and Dr. Savielly Tartakower.

 
1... d5 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3 c5 4. c4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. dxc5
Tartakower: Less consistent than 6.a3 or 6.Bd3, maintaining as long as possible the tension in the center.

 
6... Bxc5 7. a3 a6 8. b4 Bd6 9. Bb2 O-O 10. Qd2
10.Qd2? Schlechter: A very bad place for the queen. The best continuation is 10.cxd5 exd5 11.Be2 followed by 0-0.***Tartakower: Loss of time. The queen will soon have to seek a better square (14.Qe2). The most useful move is 10.Qc2.

 
10... Qe7
10... Qe7! Schlechter: A fine sacrifice of a pawn. If 11.cxd5 exd5 12.Nxd5? Nxd5 13.Qxd5 Rd8! and Black has a strong attack.

 
11. Bd3
Schlechter: Better was 11.cxd5 exd5 12.Be2.

 
11... dxc4 12. Bxc4 b5 13. Bd3 Rd8 14. Qe2 Bb7 15. O-O Ne5
15... Ne5! Schlechter: Introduced by Marshall and Schlechter in a similar position with opposite colors, but here with the extra move Rd8.

 
16. Nxe5 Bxe5
Tartakower: Threatening to win a pawn by 17... Bxh2+ 18.Kxh2 Qd6+. White's next move provides against this, but loosens the kingside defenses.

 
17. f4 Bc7 18. e4 Rac8 19. e5 Bb6+ 20. Kh1 Ng4
20... Ng4!

 
21. Be4
Schlechter: There is no defense; e.g. 21.Bxh7+ Kxh7 22.Qxg4 Rd2, etc. or 21.h3 Qh4 22.Qxg4 Qxg4 23.hxg4 Rxd3, threatening ...Rh3# and ...Rxc3 or 21.Qxg4 Rxd3 22.Ne2 Rc2 23.Bc1 g6! threatening ...h5 or 21.Ne4 Qh4 22.h3 (if 22.g3 Qxh2 23.Qxh2 Nxh2 and wins) 22... Rxd3 23.Qxd3 Bxe4 24.Qxe4 Qg3 25.hxg4 Qh4#.

 
21... Qh4 22. g3
Schlechter: Or 22.h3 Rxc3! 23.Bxc3 Bxe4 24.Qxg4 Qxg4 25.hxg4 Rd3 wins.***Tartakower: The alternative 22.h3, parrying the mate, would lead to the following brilliant lines of play: 22... Rxc3! (an eliminating sacrifice, getting rid of the knight, which overprotects the bishop on e4) 23.Bxc3 (or 23.Qxg4 Rxh3+ 24.Qxh3 Qxh3+ 25.gxh3 Bxe4+ 26.Kh2 Rd2+ 27.Kg3 Rg2+ 28.Kh4 Bd8+ 29.Kh5 Bg6#) 23... Bxe4 24.Qxg4 (if 24.Qxe4 Qg3 25.hxg4 Qh4#) 24... Qxg4 25.hxg4 Rd3 with the double threat of 26... Rh3# and Rxc3, and Black wins. Beautiful as are these variations, the continuation in the text is still more splendid.

 
22... Rxc3
22... Rxc3!!

 
23. gxh4 Rd2
23... Rd2!!

 
24. Qxd2 Bxe4+ 25. Qg2 Rh3
25... Rh3!
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