New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-10
CHESS MASTERS DRAW
GAME II BIG SURPRISE.
Marshall Ertricates Himself from a
Losing Position.


match between DR. Emanuel Lasker and Frank
J. Marshall was played yesterday at the Everett
House IN this city, and resulted in a draw after
twenty-one moves. The game was as brilliant
and exciting as it was short. and Marshall, who
appeared 10 have losing position, surprised the
experts by bringing about draw.
The big dining parlOr at the Everett House
presented d lively appearance long before the
masters sat down to play. The room looked like
a veritable chess club, and while some Of the
spectators were playing their games. most
Of them We're busy Analysing the championship
contest in progress. George w LiddeIl, an old
New York chess player. now living at Montreal
acted as Laslkers second. while DR.. s. A. Blan,
the president Of the Richmond Borough Chess
Club, Of Staten Island. acted in like capacity
for Marshall. Herbert Watson, the president Of
the Brooklyn Chess Club, who opened the pro-
ceedings with a short address was the referee.
Long before the start Marshall told friend
that he would again play the French Defence
should Lasker give him the chance, and he did
not disappoint him, for in answer TO Lasker's
opening move, pawn TO Kings fourth, the
Brooklyn player replied with pawn to Kings
third which move constitutes the French De-
fence The next three moves were made rather
rapidly. Marshall again relying upon the varia-
ton invented by the late chess player AIcCutch-
con, Of Pittsburg
On his fifth turn. however. LasHer varied the
proceedings by taking the Queens pawn, where
as on the former occasion he had played pawn
20 Kings fifth This brought about sharp
and lively game
A close study Of the position after seven
moves had been recorded disclosed the fact that
while Lasker had developed all his pieces on the
Queens side. Marshall had done the same on the
Kings side. Lasker. however, had much the
better position. as his pawns were intact. This
opinion was not shared by everybody, as IT was
thought that the open Kings Knight file. which
was commanded by his Kings Rock. would
eventually give him attack. The fact that
Lasker had left his Queens Rocks pawn to be
taken after his tenth move was also commented
upon.
Marshall took a long time for the considera-
ton of this move. and finally Queen takes Rocks
pawn was recorded. AS soon as Lasker made
his rejoinder it was thought that Marshall had
fallen into a trap. A. B. Hedges, the we'll known
Staten Island player and a member OF the
American cable team. had this TO say: Black 8
ninth move, Rock to Knight, was inopportune
A defensive move, such as pawn TO Queens
Rocks third. would have been much better the
taking of the Rocks pawn was not to be recon-
1nended as he laid himself open to a violent at
tack. which makes his game almost unredeem-
able"
Under the circumstances Marshall managed
70 find pretty good move in reply to his ad-
verEary's aggressive movements namely King
TO Bishops square. Another expert present said
that MarshalIs play erratic. not to say
poor, and that nothing in the play showed
championship form. "Once having committed
himself" he added, Marshall made great at
tempts to redeem himself but I fear that
Iasker VIII prove too much for him and beat
him IN the end"
In proof Of the difficulties Marshall had TO
contend with may be taken the fact that he
consumed more than an hour for his first six
teen moves, while Lasker took only twenty-one
minutes The latter frequently walked among
the audience, while his adversary never left the
platform. being always deep in study.
After Marshall had made his sixteenth move
he told friend that he could not understand
the criticism Of the experts present for, accord
ing to his belief, he had now either forced
draw or win. This became evident after the
next few moves, and it went like wildfre
through the room: Marshall has either won
game draws by force"
It was now Laslzers turn TO pay close atten-
ton to the board. Five minutes passed and no
move; ten minutes passed and still no answer.
Finally after long study LasKef iep!leu WIN
Queen TO Queens eighth, check. and when Mar
shall responded with King to Knight second a
draw agreed Great applause greeted
the players when the draw was announced.
If I.asker had taken the Bishop Bishop 8
square the following variation would have oc-
CURED: % QxB. QxP, CHI; % K-B, Obs, CHI.
"a XXX, 90; % R-kB. RAP' FORCING
draw.
After the game Marshall made the following
statement:
81 made up my mind to play a careful game.
Of course. had made up my mind as well that
II Lasker gave me any chances ] would take
every possible advantage. I consider had the
better game all through, but the position was
not sufficiently favorable to win. If had been
playing for a win I should probably have played:
1e B-Kt ;, or Q-Kt 3. These were the moves
also at my disposal in that position"
Dr. Lasker. in reviewing the game stated that
his change Of tactics from those OF the previous
French Defence were along lines Of accepted
analysis. His sacrifice Of his Queens Rock
pawn was, he said, with the intention OF draw
ing away the black queen from its central posi-
ton and thereby gaining access for his own
Queen to the territory of Marshalrs King. This
was successfully accomplished, but his seven
teenth move, according 10 the champion, was
possibly a bit premature although he felt GER
tain that IN doing he kept a draw In hand
Instead. he might have adopted the more nor
nal move Of Rock to Queens Knights square
and the ensuing play would not have been to his
disadvantage. or course, as the game actually
developed he had to be content with draw, as
capturing the Bishop awaited nothing. The score
in detail follows:
cTVTr1 cANFF-F-PT1NSCTI Defence.