[Event "Moscow"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Lasker"] [Black "Pirc"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B33"] [Opening "Sicilian: Open, 2...Nc6"] {Black's attempt to take the initiative backfires} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2 e6 7. O-O a6 8. Be3 Qc7 9. f4 {Here Black's prospects lie mainly in his possession of the half-open c-file. His best chance lies in the minority attack comprising the advance of his two Queenside pawns combined with ... Na5-c4. Black's next move is therefore quite understandable; the only query is whether it might not have been more pruden to complete his development first by ... Be7 and ... O-O} 9... Na5 10. f5 { White also makes an effort for the iniatitive. In view of his lead indevelopmen t it is a matter of the greatest importance for him to open the position} 10... Nc4 {When this game was played it was generally held that a backward pawn must be a serious disadvantage. No modern master would have any scruples about playing ... Pe5} (10... e5 11. Nb3 Nc4 12. Bxc4 Qxc4 13. Qf3 h6) 11. Bxc4 Qxc4 12. fxe6 fxe6 $2 {Still frightened of the backward pawn.} (12... Bxe6) 13. Rxf6 $1 {With this spl endid Exchange sacrifice, Lasker demonstartes how vulnerable Black's King is here} 13... gxf6 14. Qh5+ Kd8 (14... Kd7 15. Qf7+ Be7 16. Nf5 $3 Re8 17. Nxd6 {Overworked king}) (14... Ke7 15. Nf5+ $3 exf5 16. Nd5+ Kd7 17. Qf7+ Kc6 18. Qc7+ Kb5 19. a4+ $18) 15. Qf7 Bd7 (15... Be7 16. Nf5 {thematic} 16... Qc7 17. Na4 Rf8 18. Qxh7 Ke8 19. Bb6 Qd7 20. Qh5+ Rf7 21. Ng7+ Kf8 22. Qh8#) 16. Qxf6+ Kc7 17. Qxh8 Bh6 {Black had been counting on this move, but an elegant refutation puts an end to his hopes} 18. Nxe6+ $1 Qxe6 19. Qxa8 Bxe3+ 20. Kh1 1-0