[Event "St Petersburg (12)"] [Site "St Petersburg (12)"] [Round "0"] [White "Lasker"] [Black "Alekhine"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D08"] [Opening "QGD: Albin, 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.a3"] {Both sides defend and both sides attack} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. a3 Bg4 6. Nbd2 Qe7 7. h3 Bxf3 8. Nxf3 O-O-O 9. Qd3 h6 (9... Nxe5 10. Qf5+ Nd7 11. Nxd4) 10. g3 g6 11. Bg2 Bg7 (11... Nxe5 12. Nxe5 Qxe5 13. Bf4 $36) 12. O-O Nxe5 13. Nxe5 Bxe5 14. b4 $1 {Until this point the game has been a textbook example of the proper reaction to a gambit. The guiding principle should not be to try to hold on to the gambit pawn, but instead willingness to return it. Here we see Lasker applying this idea. In similar fashion he found an adequate defence to the once dreaded Evans Gambit} 14... f5 (14... Nf6 15. f4 Bd6 16. c5 {trapped piece}) 15. c5 $1 {This is in agreement with our principle established in our discussion of open diagonals. These pawns will reinforce the action of the King Bishop on the long diagonal} 15... Qe6 16. c6 Ne7 $1 {The best defence under the circumstances; if Black's own pawns do not give adequate defence for their King then the King will tkae shelter behind the enemy pawns} 17. cxb7+ Kb8 18. Bb2 $2 { Black gets time to start his counterattack} (18. b5 { followed by Pa4-a5, Ba3-c5, and eventually the powerfuly breakthrough with Pb6} ) 18... Rd6 19. Rac1 Rhd8 20. Rc2 f4 21. gxf4 Bxf4 22. Rd1 Nf5 23. Bc1 { Lasker always had his weather eye open for tactical pitfalls. He knew exactly what he was doing when herejected} (23. Qe4 Qb3 24. Bc1 d3 $1 {puts an entirely different complexion on the game, with Black winning at least the Exchange}) 23... Ne3 $1 24. Rc5 $1 { As usual Lasker is at his best when it comes to a scrimmage} 24... Qf6 (24... Nxd1 25. Bxf4 Nb2 26. Bxd6 -- 27. Bxc7#) 25. Qe4 Nxd1 26. Bxf4 Nc3 $2 (26... Nxf2 $3 27. Bxd6 Rxd6 {attack and defence may have remained in equilibrium}) 27. Bxd6 $3 Qxd6 (27... Nxe4 28. Bxc7+ Kxb7 29. Bxe4+ Ka6 30. b5#) 28. Qe5 { Thus Black's attack is repulsed and now White's material advantage gives him an easy win} 28... Qb6 29. Qe7 Qd6 30. Re5 d3 31. exd3 Qxd3 32. Re3 Qd1+ 33. Kh2 Nb5 34. Re6 Nxa3 35. Rf6 1-0