[Event "St Petersburg 1895/96"]
[Site "St Petersburg"]
[Date "1895.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Pillsbury, Harry Nelson"]
[Black "Lasker, Emanuel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D50"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[Annotator ""]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "1895.12.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "15"]
{The Players Harry Nelson Pillsbury (1872-1906) shot to fame when he won his
first major tournament. No one had ever done this before and only Capablanca
later achieved a success of a similar magnitude in his international debut.
Although considered merely an outside bet for the first Hastings International
in 1895, Pillsbury produced some magnificent chess, scoring fifteen wins,
three draws and only three losses. He came first, ahead of Steinitz, Chigorin,
Tarrasch and the reigning World Champion Lasker. This result catapulted
Pillsbury to the top of the chess world, and his exceptional form continued in
the first half of the St Petersburg Tournament, a round-robin tournament with
Lasker, Steinitz and Chigorin (six games against each). After nine rounds
Pillsbury was a clear leader with 6½ points. However, Pillsbury’s play
mysteriously collapsed in the second half, when he could muster only 1½
points, leaving him in third place behind Lasker and Steinitz. Pillsbury also
caught syphilis at St Petersburg, which plagued him through the rest of his
career and led to his premature death. Emanuel Lasker (1868-1941) is one of
the most famous chess players of all time. As a youngster Lasker showed
incredible talent at both chess and mathematics and he fulfilled his potential
in both fields. Lasker defeated Steinitz to become World Champion in 1894, a
title he was to hold for twentyseven years, which is still a record. Despite
his victory over Steinitz, the chess world remained unimpressed, chiefly as
the former World Champion was 32 years older than Lasker and his health was
declining. Lasker, however, was still improving. In 1896 he proved his worth
without doubt by winning four successive major events, including the St
Petersburg tournament. Lasker continued to have excellent results, before
beating Steinitz in a return match in 1896/7. During his chess career he still
found time to pursue his mathematical studies, and in 1900 he was awarded his
doctorate at Erlangen University. In chess Lasker was an exceptional tactician,
but more than anything he was an immensely resourceful fighter. On countless
occasions he was able to turn inferior positions to his advantage and his
defensive qualities were without equal. The Game Lasker gets away with some
provocative opening play to reach a very comfortable position with the black
pieces. Undaunted, Pillsbury continues to plough ahead with a crude attack,
but is rocked on his heels by a clever rook sacrifice from Lasker. Fighting
hard, Pillsbury offloads some material to set up a defence, but at the vital
moment, he misses the best line and allows Lasker to sacrifice again. This
time there is no defence.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 c5 5. Bg5 cxd4
6. Qxd4 Nc6 7. Qh4 Be7 8. O-O-O Qa5 9. e3 Bd7 10. Kb1 h6 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Nd4
O-O 13. Bxf6 (13. Bxh6 $2 Ne4 $1 $19) 13... Bxf6 14. Qh5 Nxd4 15. exd4 Be6 16.
f4 Rac8 17. f5 {Kasparov: 'As you can see, both opponents were in a real
fighting mood. After the "normal" 17...Bd7 18.Qf3 the position remains
double-edged. But here Lasker unleashes a beautiful, deeply calculated
combination that any great player of today would be proud to have found.'} Rxc3
$3 {This move is the start of some real cut-and-thrust, where neither side is
willing to go on the defensive. Of course 17...Bd7 is possible, but that’s
another, less exciting story.} 18. fxe6 $1 ({Grabbing the rook leads to a
catastrophe on the queenside for White. After} 18. bxc3 Rc8 $1 19. fxe6 Qxc3
$19 {White cannot defend against the many mating threats.}) 18... Ra3 $3 {
Kasparov: 'This paradoxical rook sacrifice drives White's king out into the
fight, where he will meet his destiny.'} 19. exf7+ {Kasparov: 'Lasker's
ingenious idea proved to be correct in all variations:'} (19. bxa3 Qb6+ 20. Ka1
(20. Kc2 Rc8+ 21. Kd2 Qxd4+ 22. Ke1 (22. Bd3 Rc2+ $3 23. Kxc2 Qb2#) 22... Qc3+
23. Ke2 Qc2+ 24. Rd2 (24. Ke3 Bg5+) 24... Qe4+ 25. Kf2 Bd4+ 26. Kg3 Rc3+ {etc.}
) 20... Bxd4+ 21. Rxd4 Qxd4+ 22. Kb1 fxe6 23. Be2 Qe4+ 24. Ka1 Rf2 {with a
decisive attack}) (19. e7 $5 {looks stronger, but it doesn't break the
co-ordination of Black's pieces:} Re8 $1 (19... Rc8 $4 20. Qf5 $1 {and the
queen comes back to the defence}) 20. bxa3 Qb6+ 21. Kc2 Rc8+ 22. Kd2 Bxd4 {
and after this deadly quiet move White is defenceless,} 23. Ke2 Qe6+ 24. Kf3
Qe3+ 25. Kg4 g6 $1 26. Qxd5 h5+ {with mate to follow. It would be interesting
to know whether a computer can come close to executing such a great
combination.}) 19... Rxf7 20. bxa3 Qb6+ 21. Bb5 $1 {Kasparov: 'The best chance.
'} (21. Ka1 Bxd4+) (21. Kc2 Rc7+ {both lose as above.}) 21... Qxb5+ 22. Ka1 Rc7
$2 {Kasparov: 'A pity. After spending so much energy and creativity to reach
this position Lasker, under heavy time pressure, misses the simple win''} (
22... Qc4 23. Qg4 Re7 $1 {threatening Re4 and Re2,} 24. Rhe1 Bxd4+ 25. Qxd4
Rxe1 26. Qxc4 (26. Qd2 Rxd1+ 27. Qxd1) 26... Rxd1+) 23. Rd2 Rc4 {Another vital
moment has arisen. Black threatens both 24...Bxd4+ and 24... Rxd4, with the
added idea of doubling the major pieces on the c-file. White has to decide
between active and passive defence, and it is by no means an easy choice.} 24.
Rhd1 $2 {Kasparov: 'Losing again.'} (24. Re1 $1 {would lead to a nice draw:}
Qa5 $1 25. Re8+ Kh7 26. Qf5+ g6 27. Re7+ $3 (27. Qxf6 $4 Rc1+ 28. Kb2 Qc3#)
27... Bxe7 28. Qf7+ Kh8 29. Qe8+ Kg7 30. Qxe7+ {with perpetual check.}) 24...
Rc3 $2 {Kasparov: 'A very serious mistake that could change everything
dramatically'} (24... Qc6 $1 {gives Black an easy win}) 25. Qf5 (25. Re1 $1 {
was more energetic, forcing Black to retrea} Rc8 {and White has a clear
advantage.}) 25... Qc4 26. Kb2 $2 {Kasparov: 'Lasker's time trouble is making
Pillsbury nervous! He feels that his opponent has lost the thread of the game,
but he himself cannot keep up with the pace.'} (26. Kb1 $1 {would pose serious
problems for Black,} Rxa3 27. Rc1 $1 {and chess history would have gone a
different route.}) 26... Rxa3 $3 {Kasparov: 'In the magical world of chess
lightening can hit the same place twice! I wonder if Pillsbury could believe
his eyes - here the horror comes again!'} 27. Qe6+ Kh7 28. Kxa3 $4 {Kasparov:
'Exhausted by the black hurricane Pillsbury succumbs to a mating threat.'} (28.
Kb1 {was also losing} Bxd4 $1 29. Qf5+ g6 $1 30. Qd7+ Bg7 {but the immediate})
({aber sofortiges} 28. Qf5+ $1 {would have saved half a point:} Kh8 29. Kb1 $1
Rxa2 $1 (29... Bxd4 30. Qf8+ Kh7 31. Qxa3) 30. Rxa2 Qb3+ 31. Kc1 Bg5+ (31...
Qxa2 32. Qc8+ Kh7 33. Qc2+) 32. Rad2 Qc3+ 33. Qc2 Qa1+ 34. Qb1 Qc3+ {and draw.}
) 28... Qc3+ 29. Ka4 b5+ $1 {Kasparov: 'The final touch. '} 30. Kxb5 Qc4+ 31.
Ka5 Bd8+ 32. Qb6 Bxb6# {mate ended this fascinating human drama. "Too many
mistakes" you say? Please don't rush to write off this game. Remember its
unique historical importance! That day Caissa chose Lasker, and as we know
today, the chess goddess did not err. Her cruel decision marked a fork in the
lives of both players. Lasker, inspired by this victory, won the tournament
convincingly. Later that year he crushed Steinitz in a rematch and kept his
title for 25 more years! Pillsbury, after the above disaster, collapsed and
lost five games out of the remaining eight, ending up third behind Steinitz.
He never achieved the same peak of playing strength as in that magnificent
year and died eight years later at the age of 34. Who know how often Harry
Nelson Pillsbury remembered that traumatic day in St. Petersburg and the
chances he had missed - chances that would have changed his entire life and
the course of chess history. Lessons from this game: 1) Study your own games!
Despite being on the wrong end of a brilliancy here, Pillsbury didn’t just
erase the game from his memory. He looked long and hard for an improvement and
was ready to unleash 7. Bxf6! next time around. 2) Often attack is the best
form of defence. Instead of passive resistance, the more active 24. Re1 or 25.
Re1 would have saved White. 3) Sacrificing two rooks, followed by driving the
king up the board to checkmate, is a pleasing way to win!} 0-1
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