[Event "Wch10"]
[Site "Vienna/Berlin"]
[Date "1910.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Schlechter, Carl"]
[Black "Lasker, Emanuel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "C66"]
[EventDate "1910.??.??"]
[PlyCount "138"]

{ When Lasker accepted the challenge by Schlechter, it was the intention to
play thirty games in six cities. It became ten games in two cities. Lasker
played a main role in the organisation and accepted the limitations generously.
  It became an exciting match. It was the first match in which chess was
played at a full level. Lasker was seeking struggle and Schlechter played
prophylactic in the middle game. Both players were endgame experts.  Three
games were played in the Wiener Schachklub. Six hours were played every day.
Time control was fifteen moves per hour. If a game ended quickly, a new one
began. } 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O d6 5. d4 Bd7 6. Re1 exd4 7. Nxd4 Be7 8. Nc3 O-O 9. Bxc6 bxc6 { (Schlechter-Steinitz, Vienna 1898). } 10. Bg5 Re8 { "White has a higher mobility", writes Euwe. } 11. Qf3 h6 12. Bh4 Nh7 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Rad1 { This position with a pawn on a6 is known from Lasker-Janowsky,
Paris 1909. Black played ..Ng5 and collapsed after a long torture. This time
Lasker is the victim. } 14... Nf8 15. h3 Ng6 16. Qg3 Qg5 17. Qxg5 hxg5 { White has a slight advantage, because he has less pawn islands. Before the
torture begins, Black has to weaken himself. } 18. f3 f6 19. Kf2 Kf7 20. Nde2 a5 { The first weakness. } 21. b3 Reb8 { Black prepares the advance of the c-pawn. } 22. Nc1 Be6 23. Nd3 c5 24. Nb2 Ne5 ( { Capablanca analyses } 24... c4 $6 25. Nxc4 Bxc4 26. bxc4 { This variation is less favourable, because the recapture will cost time. } ) 25. Nd5 Rb7 26. Re3 Nc6 27. Rc3 g6 28. a4 f5 $6 { A slight weakening. } 29. Ne3 Re8 30. Nec4 { The threat is 31.Rxd6! } 30... Ra7 31. Re1 { the new threat is 32.e5. } 31... Bxc4 $6 ( { A nearly equal game gives } 31... Nd4 32. e5 Ra6 33. Na3 Bd7 ) 32. Nxc4 { Again e5 is threatened. } 32... Kf6 33. Ne3 Ne5 $2 ( 33... f4 34. Nc4 Ne5 { keeps the position closed. } ) 34. exf5 gxf5 35. g3 $1 { White is going to create a passed pawn. } 35... Rh8 36. f4 $1 gxf4 37. Nd5+ Kf7 38. Nxf4 Rb7 $1 { Black has to seek counter-play at the other flank. } 39. Kg2 c4 $1 40. bxc4 Rb4 41. c5 Rxa4 42. cxd6 cxd6 43. Rc7+ Kf6 44. Nd5+ Kg5 ( 44... Ke6 $2 45. c4 Re8 46. Kf1 $1 { Zugzwang is fatal (Capablanca). } ) 45. h4+ Kh6 46. Ne7 Rf8 47. Rd1 Rf7 $1 { Black has to give up a pawn. } ( 47... Rf6 $2 48. Rxd6 $1 ) ( 47... Nc4 48. Kh3 { and 49.Rd4. } ) 48. Rxd6+ Kh7 49. Re6 ( 49. Rd5 $6 Rc4 { (Marco). } ) 49... Ng6 $1 { Lasker starts a great defence. } 50. Rxg6 Rxe7 51. Rgc6 Rxc7 52. Rxc7+ Kg6 53. Rc6+ Kf7 { Black has active play for a pawn. } 54. Kf3 $2 { This natural move is not the best chance. } ( 54. c4 $1 Ra3 $1 55. Ra6 $1 { (Capablanca) Play continues with } 55... a4 56. h5 ( 56. c5 $2 Rc3 ) 56... Kg7 57. Kf2 $1 { Zugzwang! } 57... Rc3 $1 ( 57... Kh7 58. Ra5 { loses the f-pawn. } ) ( 57... Kf7 58. Ra7+ { makes a concession. } ) 58. Rxa4 Kh6 59. Ra5 Kg5 60. Rc5 { The extra pawns are weak. } 60... Rc2+ 61. Ke3 ( 61. Kf3 Rc3+ 62. Kg2 Kg4 $1 ) 61... Rc3+ 62. Kd4 $5 Rxg3 63. h6 Rg4+ $1 { The last resource. } 64. Kd3 $1 Rg3+ 65. Ke2 Kxh6 66. Rxf5 Kg6 $11 ) 54... Re4 $3 { A positional sacrifice creates a fortress. } 55. Rc5 Kf6 56. Rxa5 Rc4 57. Ra6+ Ke5 58. Ra5+ Kf6 59. Ra6+ Ke5 60. Ra5+ Kf6 61. Ra2 Ke5 62. Rb2 Rc3+ 63. Kg2 Kf6 64. Kh3 Rc6 65. Rb8 ( 65. h5 Kg5 $11 ) 65... Rxc2 66. Rb6+ Kg7 67. h5 Rc4 68. Rg6+ Kh7 69. Rf6 Ra4 $1 { Lasker nearly lost. } 1/2-1/2