Georg Rotlewi vs Akiba Rubinstein
Lodz 1907/8
Queen's Gambit Declined
Lodz 1907/8
Queen's Gambit Declined
[Event "Lodz"]
[Site "Lodz POL"]
[Date "1907.12.26"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "6"]
[Result "0-1"]
[White "Georg Rotlewi"]
[Black "Akiba Rubinstein"]
[ECO "D32"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "50"]
1.d4 {Notes by Carl Schlechter and Dr. Savielly Tartakower.}
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.} Bxc5 7.a3 a6 8.b4 Bd6
9.Bb2 O-O 10.Qd2 {? Schlechter: A very bad place for the
queen. The best continuation is 10.cxd5 exd5 11.Be2, followed
by O-O. *** Tartakower: Loss of time. The queen will soon have
to seek a better square (14.Qe2). The most useful move is
10.Qc2.} 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.}
dxc4 12.Bxc4 b5 13.Bd3 Rd8 14.Qe2 Bb7 15.O-O 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 {!} 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 mate 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+ mate.}
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+ mate) 23...Bxe4+ 24.Qxg4 (if
24.Qxe4 Qg3 25.hxg4 Qh4+ mate) 24...Qxg4 25.hxg4 Rd3 with the
double threat of 26...Rh3+ mate and 26....Rxc3, and Black
wins. Beautiful as are these variations, the continuation in
the text is still more splendid.} Rxc3 {!!} 23.gxh4 Rd2 {!!}
24.Qxd2 Bxe4+ 25.Qg2 Rh3 {!} 0-1
