[Event "New York"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1924.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Lasker,Em"]
[Black "Maroczy,G"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Lopez "Battle Royale""]
[ECO "C17"]
[PlyCount "99"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 { An aggressive move, common in the French Defense. Black challenges White's center by attacking a central pawn with a flank pawn. } 5. a3 cxd4 6. axb4 dxc3 7. bxc3 { White has weak doubled c-pawns, but has compensation in the form of the two open files. } 7... Qc7 8. Nf3 Ne7 ( 8... Qxc3+ 9. Bd2 Qc7 { Black has won a pawn, but since it's cost him a tempo (plus White's c2-pawn can now advance) he doesn't really get full value. } ) 9. Bd3 Ng6 { We see now why Maroczy didn't snatch the c-pawn. He's aiming at the e5-pawn; once this pawn is eliminated, Black's two central pawns will become powerful. } 10. O-O Nd7 { Maroczy seems to have changed plans and is being overly cautious; we're left wondering why. } ( 10... Nxe5 11. Nxe5 Qxe5 12. Bd2 O-O { This would have been a better course of action. White's cramping central pawn would be eliminated and Black would have a central pawn majority. } ) 11. Re1 Qxc3 { Maroczy finally grabs the pawn while maintaining the pressure on e5. } 12. Bd2 Qc7 { The e5-square is still the center of attention. } 13. Qe2 O-O 14. Qe3 { Lasker bides his time. The Queen still defends e5 but also increases the number of squares it controls. } 14... Nb6 15. Qg5 Nc4 16. Bc3 h6 17. Qg4 Ne7 18. Qh5 Bd7 19. g4 { Now we see why the White Queen has gone over to the Kingside -- Lasker plans to tear up the pawn cover around the Black King. } 19... Bb5 20. g5 g6 { Obviously wrong. This just gives back the pawn and opens the h-file for a possible White invasion. } ( 20... Nb6 { Looking at the game with a computer shows the possibility of some tactical fireworks: } 21. Bxb5 Qxc3 22. gxh6 Qxc2 23. hxg7 Kxg7 24. Rac1 Qg6+ 25. Qxg6+ Nxg6 26. Rc7 Rab8 { While it's true that White has a Rook on the seventh rank, his pawn structure is awful. Black should be better in the long run (he's a pawn ahead plus he has a passed d-pawn). } ) 21. Qxh6 Nb6 22. Ra3 Bxd3 23. cxd3 { The b-pawn is isolated and might become a target. } 23... Nf5 24. Qh3 Qe7 { Maroczy hits at two weaknesses simultaneously: the isolated b-pawn and the g-pawn which is presently unable to be defended by another pawn. } 25. Qg4 { Overprotecting the pawn and clearing the road for h2-h4. } 25... Kg7 26. Rea1 { Threatening Rxa7. } 26... Rfc8 { Maroczy deftly counters the threat (see the variation to White's 27th move). } 27. h4 ( 27. Rxa7 Rxa7 28. Rxa7 Rxc3 { Black is up a minor piece for a pawn. } ) 27... Na4 28. Bd2 ( 28. Rxa4 Rxc3 ) 28... b5 29. R3a2 Rh8 { Maroczy apparently abandons one open file for the other, but he's merely improving the positions of both Rooks.. } 30. Kg2 Rac8 { Both of Black's open files are now commanded by a Rook. } 31. Rh1 { Overprotecting the h4-pawn. } 31... Qc7 { At first glance the battery looks impressive, but the Queen really has nowhere to go on the c-file... } 32. Nd4 { ...and Lasker takes yet another square away from the Black Queen. } 32... Qd7 33. Nxf5+ exf5 34. Qd4 { Lasker's plan is to play e6+ and win the Black Queen on the next move. } 34... Qe6 { Blocking the e-pawn's advance. Unfortunately the a7-pawn is now undefended. } 35. Qxa7 d4 { Maroczy gives a discovered attack of his own. } 36. Raa1 Qxe5 { The lost pawn has been recovered. } 37. Rae1 Qd5+ 38. Kg3 Rhe8 39. h5 gxh5 40. Rxe8 Rxe8 41. Rxh5 Nc3 { The Black Knight switches outpost squares to get closer to the White King. } 42. Qb6 { Lasker now threatens mate in two moves: 43.Qh6+ Kg8 44.Qh8# } 42... Ne2+ { "Priority of check" buys Maroczy some time. White has no time to put his own plans into action since he must react to the check. } 43. Kh2 ( 43. Kh4 Qh1# ) 43... Qe6 { The Black Queen blocks the threatened mate-in-two, but the b5-pawn must pay the ultimate price. } 44. Qxb5 { White is a pawn ahead and can develop some serious pressure along the open h-file. Maroczy needs to find a way to keep White occupied. } 44... Qd6+ 45. Kg2 Nf4+ 46. Bxf4 { An easy move to spot. The Bishop was accomplishing little on d2, so it trades itself for a more active Black piece. } 46... Qxf4 { Maroczy has run out of checks and the initiative passes to White. } 47. Qxe8 Qg4+ { The double attack appears to buy Maroczy some more time. } 48. Kf1 Qxh5 49. Qe5+ { Lasker goes his opponent one better with a triple attack. } 49... Kg8 50. Qxf5 { Maroczy, two pawns down, has a losing endgame ahead of him. He throws in the towel. } 1-0