C. Torre - Em. Lasker
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A very famous game from the
Moscow 1925 tournament.
(This tournament was
won by Bogolyubov.)
Both sides play a solid opening. The in the late Opening and the early
Middle-game, both sides play somewhat inaccurately.
From a fairly tranquil position, the then virtually unknown Torre unleashes
a surprising and devastating whirlwind attack.
One of the better known examples in practical play of
the formidable "windmill" or "see-saw attack."
One of Lasker's rare losses that was not to one of the world's best players.
1. d4
Nf6; 2.
Nf3
e6; 3.
Bg5!?,
Torre uses the opening that is
[now] named after him.
For another in depth look at a Torre Attack Opening, see the game
Janowski - Samisch;
Marienbad, 1925.
(Also see my web page dedicated to
the
"Best Short Games of Chess."
This game contains a complete look and a deep analysis of the Torre Attack.)
[ More normal is: 3.c4
, which can lead to dozens of different variations.
These include a Nimzo-Indian, a Queen's Indian, a Modern Benoni, etc.
We could also transpose to a Queen's Gambit. (Accepted or Declined.) ].
3...c5!; The most vigorous response.
(And the one recommended by book.)
[
An interesting move is:
3...h6!?; with an unclear position.
Play could now continue:
4.Bxf6, Probably the best.
(MCO looks extensively at 4. Bh4,
here.)
4...Qxf6;
5.e4
c5; (MCO
analyzes ...d6; in depth here.)
6.e5
Qf4; 7.Qd2
Qe4+; 8.Qe2
d5; 9.exd6
Qxe2+; 10.Bxe2
cxd4;
11.Bb5+
Nd7; 12.Nxd4
Bxd6; "="
Junior 6 . 0.
( This line being the result of
allowing the computer to analyze
this position,
{after White's 3rd move}
for several hours.) - 0.03/15;
Black
could also play:
3...d5; 4.c4,
(4.e3
Be7; 5.Bd3
c5; 6.c3,
transposes to the Main Line Of the
Torre Attack in MCO-14 (Col. # 5, pg. # 499.) )
4...c6; 5.Nc3
Nbd7; 6.e3,
is a transposition to
a Queen's Gambit. {Accepted or most likely The Declined.}
[ See MCO-14;
pages 499 - 501,
columns # 5 - 6, ( Mainly column # 5 here. )
and notes (q.) through (v.).
{Mainly note (q.) here.} ] ].
4.e3
cxd4!?; This is not the most common
continuation today,
but it is certainly OK.
A little known fact is Lasker very often liked to determine the pawn
structure early in the game, so that he could begin to plan the entire course
of the game. Here he gives the game a Sicilian-type pawn structure.
Lasker's line could also transpose to book, as this capture (...c5xd4)
is very common in this line.
***
MCO analyzes
4...Be7; & 4...Qb6; in depth here,
as well as a few other minor alternatives.
***
5. exd4 Be7; 6. Nbd2 d6; This is very solid and safe.
[
Black could have also tried:
6...h6!?; ("=") with the position being
close to equal. ].
7. c3
Nbd7; 8.
Bd3
b6; 9.
Nc4
Bb7; 10.
Qe2
Qc7; 11.
0-0
0-0;
12. Rfe1
Rfe8;
Black's moves seem fairly reasonable - indeed pretty good - thus far.
[
Black could have also played:
12...Rac8!?; Or maybe 12...Rfc8.
].
13. Rad1,
Safe and very solid. White is playing pretty well.
(White has played carefully and well,
thus far in the game. ... AND HE SHOULD!
There is no way Torre could have been unaware of who he was playing.
In fact, several newspapers in the 1920's conducted polls. Lasker usually
came
out on top as the most well-known of all chess players up to that time!)
[
13.a4!? ].
13...Nf8; This seems a little over-cautious.
(The computers award a slight edge
to White here. That seems correct,
as White
has completed his development,
and has a small space advantage.) {A.J.G.}
[
Again, Black could try:
13...h6!?, "=" ].
14. Bc1
Nd5!?;
Where is this Knight headed?
[Maybe Black should play: 14...Ng6! ("=") Or 14...Rac8!?; ("~" or "Unclear.") ].
15. Ng5!?, A somewhat speculative attacking move. (But not grossly unsound.)
[
15.Qc2!? ].
15...b5!; This seems to be the indicated move.
[
Black could also try: 15...h6!?;
] .
16. Na3, This is the only good square
for the Knight.
[
Not 16.Ne3??
Bxg5; ("-/+") ]
16...b4; A minor victory for Black.
He has
succeeded in breaking open a
line
on the Q-side. He has also separated White's pawns into three islands.
(Vs. Black's two.)
[16...a6!?; ].
17. cxb4
Nxb4; 18.
Qh5
Bxg5!?; This is still OK, but weakens
Black on the dark squares somewhat.
[
18...g6!?; ('!') 19.Qh6
Nxa2; ("~") 20.Bf4,
(White has comp for the material.) ].
19. Bxg5!?, ('?!')
This might be inaccurate.
[
19.Qxg5!
Nxa2; 20.Nb5,
("=") As far as I know, no other
annotator
has pointed this out. ]
19...Nxd3; 20.
Rxd3
Qa5; ("=/+")
According to most computer programs,
Black already has a slight edge.
(Albeit an almost invisible one.).
21. b4!?, The most energetic move, probably deserving of an exclam.
[ If 21.Red1?! h6!; ("Black is much better," or "/+") ].
21...Qf5!?; (Maybe - '!')
Probably the most accurate move.
(Many annotators have given this
move an exclam.)
[ Black could have tried: 21...Qd5!?; ("=/+")
Black could have also played:
21...Qxb4!?; ('!') 22.Rb1!?,
(22.Bd2!?
Qb6;
23.Nc4
Qc6
; 24.Ne3
Reb8; "=/+")
22...Qa5; 23.Nc4
Qa6; ('!?/?!')
( Maybe better is: 23...Qd5!?;
24.Ne3, now
24...Qe4; is at least "=/+")
24.Ra3
Qxc4; 25.Rxb7
e5!; ("/+")
Black is much better. This position
could
be evaluated as: "-/+." Maybe this was the best
line for Black? ].
22. Rg3
h6!?; The most natural, but also maybe incorrect.
(22...f6! was the best move here.)
[
Probably best was:
22...f6!; 23.Nc4
Red8; 24.Ne3
Qg6!;
("=/+") Black has a
very small
but solid advantage here. This line seems to hold less risk
for Black, also. ]
"Torre's vigorous, though somewhat dubious attacking play has
been rewarded
with a few inaccuracies from his renowned opponent."
- FM Graham Burgess.
In his book, "Chess Highlights of The
20th Century."
(The Best Chess 1900-1999,
In Historical Context.) {Page # 54.}
For my part, I think Lasker has played pretty well thus far. It seems Torre
has been the one to play (virtually all of) the inaccuracies.
- USCF LIFE-Master
A.J. Goldsby I.
23. Nc4, ('!') Burgess gives this an exclam. To me,
it seems to be
practically the ONLY move. White must activate all of his pieces or
lose horribly.
[
23.Rg4!?
].
23...Qd5!?; ('?!')
Burgess gives this a question mark. ('?')
But that seems much too harsh and
severe a criticism to me.
(23...Qd5; is also the first choice
of many computer programs!!!)
This move does not lose, nor does it greatly worsen or jeopardize Black's position,
so it hardly seems right to give this move a question mark. Some annotators seem
to use these type of marks with abandon and rarely use restraint. They also imitate
other famous masters. (If GM "A" says, "This is a really bad move," this move
receives a question mark for eternity it seems. Almost no one is willing to take the
effort to delve into the position, and find out whether the move is bad or good.)
With computers, this is very easy to determine today. With a little practice, anyone
can do a fairly good job of annotating a game. The key is to keep your eye
CONSTANTLY on the scoring of the position. Any move that seriously changes
the evaluation of the position should be further scrutinized.
[
Burgess claims Black MUST play:
23...hxg5!?; ('!') 24.Nxd6
Qg6;
25.Qxg6
Nxg6;
26.Nxb7
Reb8; 27.Nc5
Rxb4; 28.Rxg5;
"=" (Maybe - "+/=")
... "and a draw is probable."
- FM G. Burgess. ].
24. Ne3
Qb5?; This is the really bad move,
and
is correctly and justly criticized
by Burgess.
Lasker must have overlooked what was to happen next.
The great Lasker must have been
counting on the LATERAL PIN
(of the B at g5) to hold the balance.
[
Burgess gives:
24...Qxd4[]; 25.Rd1
Qe4; 26.Bxh6
Ng6; 27.Rg4!?,
("+/=") ?
as "good for White." But it may be the only line that
Black can reasonably play.
( 27.Bg5!? ) Not 24...Qxa2?!;
25.Bf6!,
("+/-") If 24...Qe4?!;
then 25.Bxh6,
"+/=" ]
White to play. What move would you make?
25. Bf6!!, "In return for losing his Queen,
White sets up a deadly see-saw,
which ultimately makes decisive
material gains."
- FM G. Burgess.
[
Not 25.a4?!
Qxb4; ("=/+") ].
25...Qxh5; This is now pretty much forced.
[Horrible is:
25...Ng6??; ('???')
(Black drops his Queen.)
26.Qxb5, "+/-"
].
26. Rxg7+
Kh8; Now before regaining his Queen, White gathers in quite
a lot of extra pieces that are just sort of, "lying
around."
27. Rxf7+!, The process of the "Windmill"
tactic begins.
[Maybe Lasker only saw: 27.Rg5+?? Kh7; 28.Rxh5 Kg6; "/+" ].
27...Kg8; 28.
Rg7+
Kh8; 29.
Rxb7+
Kg8; 30.
Rg7+
Kh8;
31. Rg5+!, A nice
move.
(Now that White has an overwhelming advantage in material, he gets his Queen back.)
[31.Rxa7+!?
Kg8; 32.Rg7+
Kh8; 33.Rg5+
Kh7; 34.Rxh5
Kg6; 35.g4,
(35.Ra5!?);
35...Rxa2; is still winning for White,
(Probably "+/-")
but activates Black's Rooks. This is maybe why Torre avoided it. ].
31...Kh7; 32.
Rxh5
Kg6; 33.
Rh3
Kxf6; 34.
Rxh6+
Kg5;
Burgess notes White has
3 extra pawns. (!)
35. Rh3 Reb8; 36. Rg3+ Kf6; 37. Rf3+ Kg6; 38. a3 a5; 39.bxa5,
[
Maybe White could try: 39.d5!?
].
39...Rxa5; 40.
Nc4
Rd5!?;
[ 40...Ra4 ].
41.Rf4
Nd7!?; (Maybe - '?')
This drops another pawn, but it did
not really matter. Black is already
completely lost and nothing will
change this.
(Perhaps Lasker felt the need
to activate his Knight.)
[Black had to play:
41...Kg7; (Maybe - "box") ].
42. Rxe6+
Kg5; 43.g3,
1-0
A great game by Torre.
But it also must have been a real shocker for poor Emanuel Lasker!
Although this game is not on
anybody's list of,
"The 100 Best Games of All Time,"
(see my web site); it is still one of the
great and one of the more historic
encounters
in all of the annals of
chess.
One of the great games showing the power
of the "windmill" or "see-saw"
attack.
1 - 0
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Click here
to go to my web page ("Chess Snapshots") where I
examine the critical part of this game in some detail.
This
is a MUCH shortened copy of the game than the version that exits in my
database.
(I had to greatly shorten it for publication. The other version was simply
too difficult to convert to an HTML document.)
The
original "ChessBase" file contains a VERY DETAILED
look at the opening of this game,
"The Torre Attack." This includes every column, note, and
comment that MCO has on this opening.
Additionally, it also contains MANY LINES THAT MCO DOES NOT
CONSIDER!!
This would be a great asset to have, if you wanted to study this
opening.
If you would like a copy of this game, please contact me.
Copyright, (©) A.J. Goldsby I.
© A.J. Goldsby I; 2001 - 2005.
Copyright (©) A.J. Goldsby, 2006. All rights reserved.
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