Akiba Rubinstein X Oldrich Duras - Vienna 1908

This game ilustrates two things:
(a) Rubinstein´s brilliant combination, early in the game, envolving a Queen sacrifice, to win a Pawn. (b) His skillful play thereafter to exploit his advantage. The subsequent strategy of winning with
an extra Pawn may be summed up as follows: 
(1) Rubinstein simplifies the position by exchanging as many pieces as possible.
(2) He returns the extra Pawn on one wing to create a passed Pawn on the other.
(3) He rushes the passed Pawn to the Queening square.

ChessBase

Rubinstein, Akiba–Duras, Oldrich1–0D04Vienna10Vienna1908

1.d4 d5 2.f3 c5 3.e3 f6 4.dxc5 a5+ 5.bd2 xc5 6.a3 LiveBook: 3 Games c7 7.c4 dxc4?! This move not only surrenders the center, but help White develop his pieces. Better was 7... e6. 8.xc4 White has an edge. g4 "Knights before Bishops!", advised Lasker, way back in 1895. So, 8... Nc6 was better. 9.b4 c6 10.b2 b5 An attempt to force the Knight to retreat, but Rubinstein has other plans for the piece. Its next move initiates a spectacular combination. 10...a6 11.ce5! White is in control. xe5 12.xe5! Resist 12.xe5?! b7± 12...xd1 13.xb5+ d7 Not 13...d8? 14.xd1+ d6 15.xf7+ c8 16.xd6+- 14.xd7+

xd7! 15.xd7 h5 16.e5 c8 17.g4 g6 18.xg6 The two Bishops might enable Black to put up a good deal of resistence, so Rubinstein decides to remove one of them. hxg6 19.d4 a6 20.d2 The King moves toward the center, to take an active part in the endgame. f6 Preparing 21... e5 21.ac1! White establishes control of the open file. xc1 22.xc1! Endgame The Rook must atack in the endgame, not stay inert at h1 protecting a Pawn. . KRB-KRB e5 23.c5 xh2 24.xf8 xf8 KR-KR 25.e2 e4 26.c6 g2 27.xa6 xg4 Material is even, but Rubinstein has a great positional advantage with his two connected passed Pawns. 28.a7 Almost instinctively the Rook hastens to seize control of the seventh rank. . And now b5 would win. g1 29.b5! b1 30.a4 g5? 30...b2+± is a better defense. 31.d1 g8 31.b7+- Strongly threatening a5. a1

32.b6! Rubintein doesn´t waste time saving both Pawns. . White is clearly winning. xa4 33.a7 b4 34.b7 With the threat of winning by 35.Ra8+ followed by Queening the Pawn. g4 34...b2+ 35.e1 g6 36.a8+ e7 35.a8+ f7 36.b8 xb8 37.xb8 e6 38.e8+ f5 39.f1 Precision: White = 80%, Black = 20%. 1–0

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