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D32 Queen's Gambit (Tarrasch)

Tarrasch Defense: Symmetrical Variation

Georg Rotlewi vs Akiba Rubinstein, 1907

0-1, 25 moves ("Rubinstein's Immortal")

1119679 (#114)

[Event "Lodz"]
[Site "Lodz"]
[Date "1907.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "?"]
[Result "0-1"]
[White "Georg Rotlewi"]
[Black "Akiba Rubinstein"]
[ECO "D32"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "50"]
1.d4 {Notes by Carl Schlechter and Dr. Savielly Tartakower.} d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.e3 c5 4.c4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Nf6 6.dxc5 {Tartakower: Less consistent than 6.a3 or 6.Bd3, maintaining as long as possible the tension in the center.} Bxc5 7.a3 a6 8.b4 Bd6 9.Bb2 O-O 10.Qd2 {? Schlechter: A very bad place for the queen. The best continuation is 10.cxd5 exd5 11.Be2, followed by O-O. *** Tartakower: Loss of time. The queen will soon have to seek a better square (14.Qe2). The most useful move is 10.Qc2.} Qe7 {! Schlechter: A fine sacrifice of a pawn. If 11.cxd5 exd5 12.Nxd5? Nxd5 13.Qxd5 Rd8! and Black has a strong attack.} 11.Bd3 {Schlechter: Better was 11.cxd5 exd5 12.Be2.} dxc4 12.Bxc4 b5 13.Bd3 Rd8 14.Qe2 Bb7 15.O-O Ne5 {! Schlechter: Introduced by Marshall and Schlechter in a similar position with opposite colors, but here with the extra move Rd8.} 16.Nxe5 Bxe5 {Tartakower: Threatening to win a pawn by 17...Bxh2+ 18.Kxh2 Qd6+. White's next move provides against this, but loosens the kingside defenses.} 17.f4 Bc7 18.e4 Rac8 19.e5 Bb6+ 20.Kh1 Ng4 {!} 21.Be4 {Schlechter: There is no defense; e.g., 21.Bxh7+ Kxh7 22.Qxg4 Rd2 etc.; or 21.h3 Qh4 22.Qxg4 Qxg4 23.hxg4 Rxd3, threatening ...Rh3 mate and ...Rxc3; or 21.Qxg4 Rxd3 22.Ne2 Rc2 23.Bc1 g6! threatening ...h5; or 21.Ne4 Qh4 22.h3 (if 22.g3 Qxh2+ 23.Qxh2 Nxh2 and wins.) 22....Rxd3 23.Qxd3 Bxe4 24.Qxe4 Qg3 25.hxg4 Qh4+ mate.} Qh4 22.g3 {Schlechter: Or 22.h3 Rxc3! 23.Bxc3 Bxe4 24.Qxg4 Qxg4 25.hxg4 Rd3 wins. *** Tartakower: The alternative 22.h3, parrying the mate, would lead to the following brilliant lines of play: 22...Rxc3! (an eliminating sacrifice, getting rid of the knight, which overprotects the bishop on e4) 23.Bxc3 (or 23.Qxg4 Rxh3+ 24.Qxh3 Qxh3+ 25.gxh3 Bxe4+ 26.Kh2 Rd2+ 27.Kg3 Rg2+ 28.Kh4 Bd8+ 29.Kh5 Bg6+ mate) 23...Bxe4+ 24.Qxg4 (if 24.Qxe4 Qg3 25.hxg4 Qh4+ mate) 24...Qxg4 25.hxg4 Rd3 with the double threat of 26...Rh3+ mate and 26....Rxc3, and Black wins. Beautiful as are these variations, the continuation in the text is still more splendid.} Rxc3 {!!} 23.gxh4 Rd2 {!!} 24.Qxd2 Bxe4+ 25.Qg2 Rh3 {!} 0-1

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