Rubinstein, Akiba2591–Lasker, Emanuel26321–0D32St. PetersburgSt Petersburg1909
The Players Akiba Rubinstein (1882-1961) was one of
the world’s best players in the period 1907-22. Born in the small Polish
town of Stawiski, he learned chess at the age of 16 - unusually late for one
who goes on to become a great player. A few years later he moved to Lodz and
his chess developed rapidly. By 1907 he was already recognized as one of the
leading masters and in the following five years he won a whole string of major
international events. Rubinstein challenged Lasker for the World Championship
and a match was arranged, but a poor performance by Rubinstein at St
Petersburg 1914 followed by the outbreak of the First World War dashed his
hopes of a title match. After the war years Rubinstein’s career continued
successfully and in 1922 he agreed terms with Capablanca, who had taken the
title away from Lasker the previous year. However, he was unable to raise the
necessary finance and his hopes of becoming World Champion faded for ever.
Rubinstein effectively retired from chess in 1932, with his mental health in
poor shape. Destitution and the Second World War cast a further shadow over
his declining years and he became one of the many great masters who suffered
poverty and deprivation in later life. 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 Once more Lasker employs an
inferior defence to the Queen’s Gambit, but unlike his game against
Pillsbury, he doesn’t get a chance to correct his error this time.
Rubinstein fails to find the most punishing continuation, but what he plays is
certainly enough to secure a small plus. In typical fashion Lasker seeks
complications, sacrificing a pawn to gain the initiative. Rubinstein accepts
the pawn, perhaps unwisely, but for him this is the only questionable decision
of the game. Faced with a defensive task, Rubinstein plays brilliantly, first
to squash Lasker ’s counterplay and then to go onto the attack himself.
Lasker is forced to enter a terrible endgame, which is the equivalent of
resignation against someone of Rubinstein’s legendary technique. 1.d4 d5 2.f3 f6 3.c4 e6 4.g5 c5 [When this advance is made prematurely, the
isolation of the d-pawn is the necessary consequence.] 5.cxd5 exd5 6.c3 cxd4 7.xd4 c6? 8.e3 e7 LiveBook: 3 Games 9.b5 [This move shows why
Black's 7th was open to censure.] d7 White is slightly better. 10.xf6 10.0-0 is interesting. 0-0 11.e2 c8 12.c1 h6 13.h4 10...xf6 11.xd5 xd4 11...e5 12.0-0 0-0 13.xc6 bxc6 14.c3 e8 15.d2 c7 16.f3 f6 17.ac1 b7 18.c2 c5 19.a4 xa4 20.xa4 xb2 21.xc5 b7 22.fc1 ac8 23.h3 a6 24.c7 b8 25.d7 xc7 26.xc7 Rausis,I (2440)-Mellier,P St
Martin 1991 1-0 (38) 12.exd4 g5 12...0-0 13.0-0 a6 14.xc6 xc6 15.e3 f6 16.d5 b5 17.e1 fd8 18.b3 ab8 19.a4 d7 20.ac1 b5 21.a5 bc8 22.b4 e8 23.d2 d6 24.b4 h6 25.d4 e5 26.xe5 xe5 27.xc8+ Polich,S
(2054)-Klubal,J (1761) Pardubice 2017 1-0 (46) 13.xc6 xc6 14.e3N 14.e2+ d7 15.e3 xg2 16.g1 a5+ 17.d2 xd2+ 18.xd2 e4 19.c4 g6 20.ac1 f6 21.f4 hg8 22.e3 e4 23.c5 b6 24.h5 ac8 25.f5 h6 26.h4 ce8 27.hg4 e7 28.g6 c7 Shocron,R-Humerez Estrada,C Mar del Plata/
Buenos Aires 1954 1/2-1/2 (66) 14...0-0-0 14...xg2= 15.g1 a5+ 16.d2 xd2+ 17.xd2 e4 15.0-0 he8 Threatens to win with ...Rxe3. 16.c1! [A move of extraordinary subtlety. White now retains his advantages. He
threatens Rc1-c5 and d4-d5, and Black's obvious threat of 16...Rxe3 he meets
as is shown by his 17th move.] xe3 Friday, June 1, 2018
Akiba Rubinstein X Emanuel Lasker - St Petersburg 1909
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