[Event "4th match game"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Tarrasch"] [Black "Lasker"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C66"] [Opening "Spanish: Closed Berlin"] {Lasker's celebrated Rook maneuver} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O d6 5. d4 Bd7 6. Nc3 Be7 7. Re1 exd4 8. Nxd4 Nxd4 9. Qxd4 Bxb5 10. Nxb5 O-O 11. Bg5 h6 12. Bh4 Re8 13. Rad1 Nd7 14. Bxe7 Rxe7 {This position is closely balanced, but White's control of more space gives him reason to seek for the initiative} 15. Qc3 {Attacking the c-pawn and vacating d4 for the Knight with gain of tempo. Also, the Queen occupies the long diagonal, with possibilities of attack against g7.} 15... Re5 $1 {Lasker has no wish to be forced on the defensive. He fights for the initiative himself, and from the sequel it is evident that he was willing to run considerable risk to get it} (15... Ne5 16. Nd4 -- 17. f4 Ng6 18. Nf5 { Keeping Black busy with new threats, and this is typical of the initative}) 16. Nd4 (16. Nxc7 Rc5) 16... Rc5 $1 {A strange way of deploying a Rook, for a Rook without an open file behind it is highly vulnerable. Lasker means to call the tune at any price. The explanation of this move which he later gave was: "The Rook must expose hiself to attack so as to draw the enemy fire"} 17. Qb3 Nb6 18. f4 {Cutting off the Rook's retreat.} (18. Re3 Qe8 19. Nf5 Kh7) 18... Qf6 19. Qf3 Re8 { White's Pf4 has weakened his e-pawn, giving Black's other Rook a target} 20. c3 a5 21. b3 a4 22. b4 Rc4 23. g3 {To protect Pf4 against ... Pc5} (23. -- c5 24. Nb5 (24. bxc5 Rxc5 {Rook is freed}) 24... d5 $1 25. exd5 Rxf4) 23... Rd8 $3 { Against Black is threatening to rescue his Rook by ... Pc5. Rd8 is designed to support the d-pawn after ...Pc5} 24. Re3 { An attempt to prevent ... Pc5 by combanative means. The Queen protects the Rook } (24. -- c5 25. Nb5 cxb4 {Rook is freed}) 24... c5 $1 25. Nb5 cxb4 26. Rxd6 Rxd6 27. e5 {If the Rook was on e1 then ... Qe7, Nxd6 Rxc3 advantageous Black. Lasker, however, has seen a flaw in White's analysis} 27... Rxf4 $3 { A brillian refutation} 28. gxf4 Qg6+ 29. Kh1 $2 Qb1+ 30. Kg2 Rd2+ 31. Re2 Qxa2 32. Rxd2 Qxd2+ 33. Kg3 a3 34. e6 Qe1+ 35. Kg4 Qxe6+ 36. f5 Qc4+ 37. Nd4 a2 38. Qd1 Nd5 39. Qa4 Nxc3 40. Qe8+ Kh7 41. Kh5 a1=Q 0-1