The table of dates, openings, and move times in José Raúl Capablanca, World's Championship Matches, 1921 and 1927 (Dover 1977) states that this game was played over two nights on 3 and 4 April 1921. However the notes presented by Capablanca undermine this information, consisting only of the 30 moves played on 3 April. American Chess Bulletin (April 1921) has a 31st move for Lasker, a single date, and interesting notes by Basil Soldatenkov.
These notes take the form of a narrative of the game played, identification of 31.Ke1 as a sealed move, and a fantasy variation carried out to move 56 that begins with an alternative to 31.Ke1. Soldatenkov suggests that Lasker was not feeling well on the second night.
Who was Basil Soldatenkov? His interesting narrative on the game sent me searching for information.
ChessBase Mega 2020 has two games played by Vasily Soldatenkov. American Chess Bulletin (November 1917) in "Ending Between Russian Diplomats" (224) mentions Basil Soldatencov (note spelling) as a new member of the Manhattan Chess Club, indicating that he is attached to the Russian Embassy in Washington. Later in ACB (March 1918) the magazine spells his name Soldatenkoff. Edward Winter reproduced the article with the ending, and much else, in "Soldatenkov" Chess Notes (updated 30 December 2018). From the scraps of information that Winter assembled, a fair bit about the man comes to light, including two divorces, one after a marriage of less than ten years to an American woman 17 years younger than him.
Although Soldatenkov mentions the aborted resumption of this game "the next day" and Capablanca states, "having analyzed the game during the twenty-four hours' interval," Monday was ordinarily a rest day. Lasker used Mondays to produce his dispatches to an Amsterdam paper. There was a dispatch dated 4 April 1921 about which I will say more tomorrow.
In his summary of Lasker's activities during the match, Hartwig Cassel stated:
[Lasker] actually saw fit to engage in newspaper work, having contracted with two European papers to furnish the scores of the games, together with analytical work, and every Monday, when the players had an off day, he had to sit down for hours to come up to his contract. Will chess players, or, rather, masters, never learn the lesson that there is enough work to do, when having to play chess with strong opponents, that they should shun newspaper work and leave it to men who do that work exclusively?This statement from an interview with Cassel was presented in "The Gratitude of Cuba," American Chess Bulletin (May 1921), 99-101. The previous page contains the "The Summary"--the table of dates, openings, results, and move times--exactly as it would reappear in Capablanca's book on the match.
Was Monday always a rest day? If so, it would seem that the players may have sat down to resume game eight on Tuesday, 5 April, and quickly agreed to a draw without making further moves. That notion accords with the dating of game nine as having been played on 6 April 1921.
The comments by Soldatenkov form a narrative that follows the game score in American Chess Bulletin, and conclude with the Russian's fantasy variation that he presents in support of his contention that Lasker had a superior position when a draw was agreed. I have broken up his narrative and inserted most of it in shorter fragments at appropriate moments in the game.
Lasker,Emanuel -- Capablanca,José Raúl [D12]
World Championship 12th Havana (8), 03.04.1921
[Capablanca/Lasker/Soldatenkov]
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 c6
"That works too" (Lasker).
Capablanca's choice is the most popular today in the position and is regarded as a solid response to the Queen's Gambit.
4.e3
"This allows Black to bring out the Queen's Bishop without any difficulty" (Capablanca).
"Too tame!" (Lasker)
"4.Nc3 is more aggressive. 4...Bf5 This move would not be possible now, because then 5.cxd5 cxd5 6.Qb3 would run into trouble for Black" (Lasker).
4...Bf5 5.Nc3 e6 6.Bd3
6.Nh4 is more often the choice of masters today.
6...Bxd3 7.Qxd3 Nbd7 8.0-0
Black to move
8...Bd6
8...Be7 or Bb4 both seem preferable.
9.e4 dxe4 10.Nxe4 Nxe4 11.Qxe4 0-0
Everything so far looks akin to many of my own games with the Queen's Gambit, and these often continue 11...Nf6 12.Qe2
8...Be7 or Bb4 both seem preferable.
9.e4 dxe4 10.Nxe4 Nxe4 11.Qxe4 0-0
Everything so far looks akin to many of my own games with the Queen's Gambit, and these often continue 11...Nf6 12.Qe2
White to move
12.Bd2
12.Bg5 was played in nearly half of the 57 games in PowerBook 2020 that reached this position.
12...Qf6 13.Rad1
Only one other game in Mega 2020 has 12...Qf6. That game, played in 1999, continued with 13.Bc3.
13...Qg6
"Dr. Lasker compelled his opponent to an exchange of Queens and, in its early stage, the game assumed the character of an endgame" (Soldatenkov).
I do not see from the game score how Lasker compelled the exchange of queens. Rather, it seems to me that exchanging queens was Capablanca's intent with 12...Qf6.
14.Qxg6 hxg6 15.Bc3 Rfd8 16.Rfe1 Bc7
A literal translation of Lasker's words here read strangely. His point appears that he considers this position likely to reach a draw with best play. "Die Partie ist bei richtigem Spiele natürlich unentschieden" (Lasker).
12.Bg5 was played in nearly half of the 57 games in PowerBook 2020 that reached this position.
12...Qf6 13.Rad1
Only one other game in Mega 2020 has 12...Qf6. That game, played in 1999, continued with 13.Bc3.
13...Qg6
"Dr. Lasker compelled his opponent to an exchange of Queens and, in its early stage, the game assumed the character of an endgame" (Soldatenkov).
I do not see from the game score how Lasker compelled the exchange of queens. Rather, it seems to me that exchanging queens was Capablanca's intent with 12...Qf6.
14.Qxg6 hxg6 15.Bc3 Rfd8 16.Rfe1 Bc7
A literal translation of Lasker's words here read strangely. His point appears that he considers this position likely to reach a draw with best play. "Die Partie ist bei richtigem Spiele natürlich unentschieden" (Lasker).
White to move
17.Kf1 Nf8
"Thereupon took place highly strategical maneuvering,..." (Soldatenkov).
18.Bd2 f6 19.h4 Kf7 20.g3
"...in the course of which Dr. Lasker, after having insured his right wing against all possible attempts of his adversary,..." (Soldatenkov).
I tell students that they should refrain from placing ellipses at the beginning and end of a quotation. I violate this prescription here, because I want my readers to perceive the continuity in the comments I have placed at moves 17, 20, and 21.
20...Nd7 21.Be3
"...began a pressure on the Queen's side and, as it seemed, almost inadvertently to his opponent, obtained a distinct preponderance of pawn position there and then" (Soldatenkov).
"Thereupon took place highly strategical maneuvering,..." (Soldatenkov).
18.Bd2 f6 19.h4 Kf7 20.g3
"...in the course of which Dr. Lasker, after having insured his right wing against all possible attempts of his adversary,..." (Soldatenkov).
I tell students that they should refrain from placing ellipses at the beginning and end of a quotation. I violate this prescription here, because I want my readers to perceive the continuity in the comments I have placed at moves 17, 20, and 21.
20...Nd7 21.Be3
"...began a pressure on the Queen's side and, as it seemed, almost inadvertently to his opponent, obtained a distinct preponderance of pawn position there and then" (Soldatenkov).
Black to move
21...Nb6
"To this plan of campaign the Pan-American champion opposed a steadfast resistance and his maneuvering of the knight, which threatened to bring into play a combination of pawn and rook at various parts of the enemy's center, was not only purely defensive, but also aggressive at times. However, Capablanca did not succeed in breaking through anywhere ..." (Soldatenkov).
22.Rc1 Nc8 23.Re2 Ne7
All these maneuvers with the Knight are extremely difficult to explain fully. The student would do well to carefully analyze them. Black's position might now be said to be unassailable.
A poster on chessgames.com stated in response to this annotation: "Well I would...if I was positive Capablanca wasn't pulling my leg" (Petrocephalon, 17 Nov 2005).
24.Rc3 a6
"Black prepares b7-b5 to occupy c4 and win the point d5" (Lasker).
25.a4 Rab8 26.b4
"To this plan of campaign the Pan-American champion opposed a steadfast resistance and his maneuvering of the knight, which threatened to bring into play a combination of pawn and rook at various parts of the enemy's center, was not only purely defensive, but also aggressive at times. However, Capablanca did not succeed in breaking through anywhere ..." (Soldatenkov).
22.Rc1 Nc8 23.Re2 Ne7
All these maneuvers with the Knight are extremely difficult to explain fully. The student would do well to carefully analyze them. Black's position might now be said to be unassailable.
A poster on chessgames.com stated in response to this annotation: "Well I would...if I was positive Capablanca wasn't pulling my leg" (Petrocephalon, 17 Nov 2005).
24.Rc3 a6
"Black prepares b7-b5 to occupy c4 and win the point d5" (Lasker).
25.a4 Rab8 26.b4
Black to move
"White now threatens b5" (Lasker).
26...b5
"Best. Black wins rule over d5, White receives a strong passed pawn as compensation" (Lasker).
"26...Bd6 was better, as it gave Black some slight winning chances" (Capablanca).
27.cxb5 axb5 28.a5
"Dr. Lasker proceeded to gain advantage until, finally, he emerged with a passed pawn on the a-file, with only a slight pressure by his valorous opponent on his b-pawn to compensate the latter for said disadvantage" (Soldatenkov).
28...Bd6 29.Rb3 Nd5 30.Bd2 Rdc8 ½-½
Lasker 2:07 - Capablanca 1:48
"The game was given up for a draw, because having analyzed the game during the twenty-four hours' interval, we both came to the conclusion that it was impossible to win the game for either side" (Capablanca).
26...b5
"Best. Black wins rule over d5, White receives a strong passed pawn as compensation" (Lasker).
"26...Bd6 was better, as it gave Black some slight winning chances" (Capablanca).
27.cxb5 axb5 28.a5
"Dr. Lasker proceeded to gain advantage until, finally, he emerged with a passed pawn on the a-file, with only a slight pressure by his valorous opponent on his b-pawn to compensate the latter for said disadvantage" (Soldatenkov).
28...Bd6 29.Rb3 Nd5 30.Bd2 Rdc8 ½-½
Lasker 2:07 - Capablanca 1:48
"The game was given up for a draw, because having analyzed the game during the twenty-four hours' interval, we both came to the conclusion that it was impossible to win the game for either side" (Capablanca).
White to move
 |
| Adjourned/Final Position |
It is noteworthy, perhaps, that neither Lasker's nor Capablanca's books on the match offer Lasker's sealed 31st move. The agreement that it was thus drawn after move 30, and Capablanca's comment suggests that they may have chatted before sitting at the board and agreed not to continue.
Soldatenkov's narrative describes the scene in the playing room, and the response of spectators. Who was his source?
Soldatenkov's Fantasy Variation
Soldatenkov wrote:
"The game was adjourned here, Lasker sealing his thirty-first move. I have strong grounds to believe that the Cuban master did not consider himself at his best that day and viewed the whole line of aggressive defense as a distinct, if imperceptible blunder, and his position at that stage of the game was was very inferior."31.g4
"The next day the game was resumed. Lasker's sealed move was 31.Ke1. A draw was agreed upon to the utmost astonishment of all, and I dare say, the amusement of Capablanca, who, I am sure, had he the White pieces, with his thorough knowledge of end games, his sporting and combative spirit, would have played it out to a finish and most probably won. However, Dr. Lasker, not feeling very fit and thus wanting to avoid heavy strain, consented to a draw!"
"Although I can not pretend to give an exhaustive of this intricate position, yet I will try to indicate for the benefit of readers of the Bulletin a tentative line of play the game might have followed and which, to my mind, clearly indicates how threatening and aggressive the position of the White pieces is, owing to the overhanging sword of Damocles, which White's a-pawn happens to be:"
Naturally, the game could not have resumed with a move that differs from the one that Lasker sealed.
31...Re8 32.g5
Black to move
 |
| Analysis Diagram |
Of course, this move is a blunder, which I would not expect from Capablanca. The whole fantasy variation rests on unsound play by Black.
33.dxe5 fxe5 34.Re4
Soldatenkov also offers 34.Ne1 e4 35.f3
34...Re7 35.Ne1 Rh8 36.Nd3 Ke6 37.Rb1 Kf5 38.Rbe1 Bb8 39.Kg2 Bd6 40.Kf3 Bb8 41.Bc1 Nc3 42.Rf4+ exf4 43.Rxe7 Rxh4 44.Nxf4 Bxf4 45.Rf7+ Ke6 46.Rxf4 Rh3+ 47.Kg4 Rd3 48.Bb2 Nd5 49.Re4+ Kf7 50.a6 Rd2 51.a7 Nc7 52.Bxg7 Rxf2 53.Bf6 Na8 54.Re7+ Kf8 55.Rh7 Nb6 56.Bd4 and White is winning.
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