Lasker’s Penetrating Queen

by Bill Wall

Here is a game in which Emanual Lasker found a way to penetrate his queen in enemy territory, then sac it for a checkmate.  See if you can find the winning moves.  The game was part of a 25 board simul in Glasgow, Scotland.  Lasker won 23 and drew 2.  Muirhead was the President of the Glasgow Chess Club.

Emanuel Lasker - James Muirhead, Glasgow, Scotland, January 5,1899 (ECO: C30)

1. e4 e5 2. f4 Bc5 (King's Gambit Declined) 3. Nf3 Nf6 (more common is 3…d6) 4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. d4 Be7 (5…Bb6; 5... Bb4+?! 6. c3 Ba5 7. Qe2 f5 8. exf6 Qxf6 9. Qxe4+ 1-0 Wall-Majnoon, Internet 1998 ) 6. Bd3 d5 7. exd6 Nxd6 8. O-O O-O 9. c3 Bf5 (9…Be6) 10. Bxf5 Nxf5 11. Qd3 Nh4 (11…g6) 12. Nbd2 Nd7 (12…Ng6) 13. Ne4 Nxf3+ (13…Rc8) 14. Rxf3 (14.Qxf3 may be better) 14…Rb8 (14…c5; 14…Nb6) 15. Rh3 (or 15.Rg3) 15…f5 16. Ng3 g6 17. Ne2 (17.Qc4+ Kh8 18.Bh6) 17…Bd6 (17... Nf6 ) 18. Qc4+ Kh8 (18... Kg7 19. Bh6+ Kh8 20.Bxf8 Qxf8 21.Nc1; 18…Rf7 19.Rxh7) 19. Bh6 Nb6?! (19... b5 20. Qd5 Re8, or 19…b5 20.Qb3 Re8 21,Qf7 Qf6) 20. Qb3 Re8?? (the losing move. To prevent Bg7, Black had to play 20... Rg8.  If  21.Qf7, then Qe7) 21. Qf7 (threatening 22.Qg7 mate or 22.Bg7 mate) 21…Rg8 (21... Re7 22. Qf6+; 21... Qe7 22. Bg7#; 21... Bf8 22. Bxf8 Rxf8 23. Rxh7# ) 22. Qxh7+! Kxh7 23. Bf8+ and Black resigns since 23...Qh4 is the only move, then 24.Rxh4 mate. (23. Bf8+ Qh4 24. Rxh4# )  1-0

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