Anil Kumar Anand
anilka@hpcl.co.in
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Anil Kumar Anand anilka@hpcl.co.in |
But then, Harry Nelson Pillsbury’s story is just as astounding as it is tragic. He was a far more ill-fated American phenomenon in the mould of Paul Morphy before him and Bobby Fischer after him, the only difference being that it was Death that snatched him away from the heights of immortality.
A brief life-sketch is as follows:
Pillsbury was born on December 5, 1872 in Somerville, Massachusetts. He learned chess around Thanksgiving in 1888 at the relatively late age of 15. His first chess teacher was Addison Smith, a member of the Boston Chess Club who lived in Somerville.
As a youth he went to Boston and spent much of his time playing chess. By 1892 he was already the best player in Boston. He rose to dizzying heights soon after.
In April, 1892, he played a 3-game match against the reigning world champion, Wilhelm Steinitz in Boston. Steinitz gave Pillsbury a pawn and move. Pillsbury surprised all by winning the match with 2 wins and 1 loss.
In September, 1893, he played in an impromptu tournament and beat the U.S. Champion Jackson Showalter. In December, 1893, he came in clear first at the Masters' Manhattan Cafe Chess Tournament in Manhattan at the City Chess Club.
In June, 1895, the Brooklyn Chess Club selected him as its representative to the Hastings Chess Congress. He sailed to England in July, 1895. In August that year, he played in Hastings and after a first round loss to Chigorin, won the tournament with felicitous ease (with 9 wins in a row including the final game), at the rather young age of 22. His record: 15 wins, 3 draws and 3 losses in the highest category event till then. No other player had ever won their first major international tournament the first time playing it with the sole exception of Paul Morphy (who won at just 21!). He finished ahead of Chigorin (who beat him in the very first round!), Rubinstein, Em. Lasker – the world champion and most of the world’s leading masters. He was immediately recognized as a prodigious talent and a future world chess champion by one and all.
In 1895-6 he took 3rd place at St. Petersburg in a four-master match tournament (Lasker, Chigorin, Steinitz, Pillsbury). They played 6 games against each other. During this time in Russia, he contracted a mysterious disease which was to take his life within the next 10 years.
In the summer of 1896 he shared 3rd place with Tarrasch at Nuremberg (after Em.Lasker and Maroczy). He took 3rd place at Budapest, behind Chigorin and Charousek.
He won the U.S. Championship in 1897, defeating Jackson Showalter. They played at the Hamilton Club in Brooklyn from February 10 to April 4. The stakes were $1,000 a side. Pillsbury won the match 10-8 with 3 draws. Though Pillsbury won, he refused the title of American Champion, so Showalter remained the US Champion. However, the very next year, he defeated Showalter again, with a score of 7-3. This time it was an official (6th) US Championship match.
In May-June, 1898, he tied for 1st place with Tarrasch at Vienna (the Kaiser Jubilee).
In 1899 he tied for 2nd place at London. Lasker won the event.
After his return from London, he organized a tour of North America. From September 1899 to April 1900, he toured the US, Canada, and Cuba. He gave over 150 exhibitions and traveled over 40,000 miles. On April 28, 1900 he set a world record blindfold play of 16 opponents when he was in Philadelphia. His record : (+11-1=4); a hitherto unmatched feat. He took 2nd place at Paris (behind Lasker) and tied for 1st at Munich (with Carl Schlechter).
In 1901 he married Mary Bush in Philadelphia. He tried to negotiate a match with Lasker for the world championship, but nothing ever came of it.
In August, 1901, he took 1st place at the American Masters tournament in Buffalo (New York State Chess Association).
In 1901-02 he toured the US and Great Britain, giving exhibitions.
In 1902 he was 2nd at Monte Carlo and 2nd at Hanover. On August 2, 1902 in Hanover, he played 21 chess players blindfolded simultaneously. He won 3, drew 11, and lost 7. All players were expert or master strength. In Moscow he played 22 players blindfolded simultaneously. One of the Moscow players was Alexei Alekhine, the elder brother of Alexander Alekhine who managed to draw with him.
In February-March, 1903, he was 3rd at Monte Carlo, behind Tarrasch and Maroczy. He then went to Vienna to take part in a Gambit tournament. He took 4th place. In late 1903 he went on his final American chess tour.
His last tournament was Cambridge Springs, in April-May, 1904. During the tournament he suffered from insomnia and restlessness. However, he had a memorable victory over the reigning champion Em. Lasker.
After Cambridge Springs, he played only 2 more serious games in the annual matches between the Franklin and Manhattan Chess Clubs.
During the summer months of 1904, he vacationed in Atlantic City to regain his physical strength. He later returned to Philadelphia to recuperate. Later that year Frank Marshall was proclaimed U.S. Chess Champion when Pillsbury declined to play due to serious illness.
Pillsbury was primarily responsible for the 1st International Women’s chess tournament held at Hotel Cecil in London in 1897, won by Ms. Mary Rudge. He was also involved in the US Women's Chess Congress held in New York in 1906.
On March 7, 1905, he suffered a stroke. On March 28 he was operated on at the Presbyterian Hospital in Philadelphia. Still in May, 1905, he gave a simultaneous exhibition in Boston. He played his final serious game on May 31, 1905 during the annual Franklin and Manhattan chess club match.
On November 8, 1905 he went to Bermuda, hoping for a cure. While in Bermuda, he suffered his 2nd stroke. He returned home in January, 1906 and went to Pasadena for special medical treatment.
In May 1906, he had another stroke which caused partial paralysis. He died of general paresis (syphilis) on June 17, 1906 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 6 months short of 34!
In 1986 he was inducted into the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame.
Harry Pillsbury’s memory feats were just as legendary as his simultaneous blindfold play. Here is a classic example:
One day in London, before Pillsbury gave his usual exhibition of 20 simultaneous blindfold games and a game of whist, two professors came to him. They had chosen a list of words or phrases designed to test and perhaps defeat his phenomenal memory. Their list consisted of the following:
Antiphlogistine, periosteum,
takadiastase, plasmon,
ambrosia, Threlkeld,
strepococcus, straphylococcus,
micrococcus, plasmodium,
Mississippi, Freiheit,
Philadelphia, Cincinnati,
athletics, no war,
Etchenberg, American,
Russian, philosophy,
Piet Potgelter's Rost,
Salamagundi, Domisellecootsi,
Bangmanvate, Schlechter's Neck,
Manzinyama, theosophy,
catechism, Madjesoomalops
Pillsbury took the paper, quickly studied the words and passed the list back. Then he recited the whole list forwards and backwards. The professors left, no doubt dazed, while Pillsbury went on with his exhibition. The next day, he repeated the word list again. Most great chess players were child prodigies. But Pillsbury learnt chess at 15, rather late in comparison to other masters, yet rose meteorically nonetheless. For comparison, here are the ages at which many other masters are supposed to have learnt the opening moves of chess:
| Paul Morphy | 8 | Adolf Anderssen | 9 | Wilhelm Steinitz | 10 | J.R.Capablanca | 4 | Alexander Alekhine | 7 | Max Euwe | 4 | Mikhail Botvinnik | 12 | Vasyly Smyslov | 6 | Mikhail Tal | 8 | Tigran Petrosian | 8 | Boris Spassky | 5 | Bobby Fischer | 6 | Anatoly Karpov | 4 | Garry Kasparov | 7 | Viswanathan Anand | 6 |
He was a true master in all the 3 phases of the game-Opening, Middle and End game. Here are five all-time-great games which showcase his amazing talent and his incredible will to win.
One of the immortal games of chess history is this game against Tarrasch in which he conducted a classic, slow-moving, sustained attack against the opponent’s King concluding with a fine, final flurry to mate. With this game, played in the second round of Harry Pillsbury’s first international tournament at Hastings, the young American served notice that a genius with astonishing new ideas in the Queen’s Gambit had arrived at the chess-board. Tarrasch, a great master himself despite his failure to dethrone Em. Lasker, must have suffered unbearable torture over the final 30 moves of this masterpiece!
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.Rc1 0-0 7.e3 b6 8.cxd5 exd5 9.Bd3 Bb7 10.0-0 c5 11.Re1 c4 12.Bb1 a6 13.Ne5 b5 14.f4 Re8 15.Qf3 Nf8 16.Ne2 Ne4 17.Bxe7 Rxe7 18.Bxe4! dxe4 19.Qg3 f6! 20.Ng4 Kh8
21.f5! Qd7 22.Rf1 Rd8 23.Rf4 Qd6 24.Qh4 Rde8 25.Nc3 Bd5 26.Nf2 Qc6 27.Rf1 b4 28.Ne2 Qa4 29.Ng4 Nd7 30.R4f2!
This defensive resource, which also positions the Rook for future attacking duties, must have been foreseen two moves earlier. Tarrasch later said handsomely that Pillsbury’s best games would interest future generations of chess players, not merely his contemporaries.
30…Kg8 31.Nc1 c3 32.b3 Qc6 33.h3 a5 34.Nh2 a4 35.g4 axb3 36.axb3 Ra8 37.g5 Ra3 38.Ng4 Bxb3?
The correct move is 38…Rxb3! which will become obvious by move 42, when Black will wish that his Queen Bishop were covering the f7 and g8 squares.
39.Rg2 Kh8 40.gxf6 gxf6 41.Nxb3 Rxb3 42.Nh6! Rg7 43.Rxg7 Kxg7 44.Qg3+!! Kxh6 45.Kh1! Qd5 46.Rg1
In conducting this extended attack, Pillsbury plays many quiet moves. From move 21 until the end, he plays only four checks, not counting the final mate.
46…Qxf5 47.Qh4+ Qh5 48.Qf4+ Qg5 49.Rxg5 fxg5 50.Qd6+ Kh5 51.Qxd7 c2
Quite the sporting gesture.
51…Qxh7 52.Qxh7#
This game is unmatched in chess history for its split-second timing!
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 g6 4.Nc3 Bg7 5.Nf3 Nf6 6.Bd3 O-O 7.Ne5 dxc4 8.Bxc4 Nd5 9.f4 Be6 10.Qb3 b5 11.Bxd5 Bxd5 12.Nxd5 Qxd5 13.Qxd5 cxd5 14.Nd3 Nd7 15.Bd2 Rfc8 16.Ke2 e6 17.Rhc1 Bf8 18.Rxc8 Rxc8 19.Rc1 Rxc1 20.Bxc1 Bd6 21.Bd2 Kf8 22.Bb4 Ke7 23.Bc5 a6 24.b4 f6 25.g4 Bxc5 26.bxc5 Nb8
26…a5 27.f5 g5 28.c6 Nb6 29.Nc5 exf5 30.gxf5 Kd6 31.Nb7+ Kxd6 32.Na5 Kc7 is rather favourable to Black according to Dr.Em.Lasker
27.f5!!
If 27...gxf5 28.gxf5 exf5, then 29.Nf4 wins the d-Pawn with a clear positional advantage
27…g5 28.Neb4! a5
Selecting the line that leads to beautiful combinative play. There is hardly anything else, for the threat is 29.cxd6 Kxd6 30.fxe6-as in the game and if 28…Kd7 29.fe6+ Kxe6 30.c6! Kd6 31.c7 Kxc7 32.Nxd5+ and 33.Nxf6 wins easily. With the text, Black hoped to drive the knight away when 29…Nc6 gives him a defendable position.
29.c6! Kd6 30.fxe6! Nxc6
Forced as 4…axb loses to 5.e7 Kxe7 6.c7 revealing the helplessness of the knight.
31.Nxc6 Kxc6 32.e4! de4 33.d5+ Kd6 34.Ke3
It is only now that we realize how far ahead Pillsbury must have calculated. He captures the e-pawn just in time to stop Black’s passed Q-side pawns.
34…b4 35.Kxe4 a4 36.Kd4 h5? 37.gxh5 a3 38.Kc4 f5 39.h6 1-0
If 39...f4 40.h7
This was the last round game of this tournament! Keres has proved that Black’s best move 36…Ke7! also loses. His main line is 36…Ke7! 37.Kc4 b3 38.ab3 a3 39.Kc3 f5 40.gf5 g4 41.b4! h5 42.b5 h4 43.b6 a2 44.Kb2 g3 45.hg3 hg3 46.d6+! Kxd6 47.b7 Kc7 48.e7 1-0. A flawless endgame, comparable with the best ever played.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c6 4.e3 Nf6 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 Bd6 7.0-0 0-0 8.e4!? dxe4 9.Nxe4 Nxe4 10.Bxe4 Nf6 11.Bc2!
Chernev notes that the position is exactly the same as Capablanca – Scott, Hastings, 1919.
11...h6 12.Be3 Re8 13.Qd3 Qc7!?
Black develops and also prepares the c6 to c5 pawn break.
Not a bad move, but since Black gets into so much trouble ...maybe this move is inaccurate.
14.c5!
Setting up a terrific bind. This also prevents Black from playing his natural freeing move ...c5.
14...Bf8 15.Ne5!
Occupying his outpost.- Pillsbury simply loved to plop a Knight on e5.
15...Bxc5!?
"Did he think Pillsbury could have overlooked this?" - Irving Chernev.
Maybe Black could play: 15...b6!? but White could play 16.Ng4 or 16.Bf4 with a solid advantage. Or 15...g6 16.b4! +/= with a tremendous bind on the position.
A brilliant rejoinder.
Chernev writes: "Ready to answer 16...PxB (?) with 17.QN3ch, KB1
18.NN6ch, with a discovered attack on the (Black) Queen.". [White could also have played: 16.Nxf7! Qxf7 (or 16...Kxf7 17.Qg6+ Kg8 18.dxc5 +/-) 17.dxc5, +/= White has at least a slight advantage.]
16...Bxd4
Black tries to complicate.
Instead 16...gxh6? 17.Qg3+ Ng4 (17...Kf8?? 18.Ng6+ fxg6 19.Qxc7, +/-) 18.Qxg4+ Kf8 19.Bh7! Bxd4 (Or 19...Bb6 20.Rae1 Ke7 21.Qg7, +/-) 20.Qxd4 f6 21.Qc5+ Kg7 22.Qc2 fxe5 23.Qg6+ Kh8 24.Qxe8+ with a completely won game.
Else Black could play 16...Bd6!? but White would probably be much better after the simple 17.Bg5.
17.Qxd4 gxh6 18.Qf4!!
A very accurate move. Chernev writes: "Attacking the Knight and also renewing the threat against the Queen by 19.QN3ch and 20.NN6ch."
18...Nd5
Unfortunately for Black, this looks forced.
19.Qxh6!
White surrounds the Black King. 19.Qg3+ Kh8 20.Rad1, +/-
19...f6
Maybe forced. Black is trying to stop the advance of the Hun hordes, but it may already be too late. Chernev gives the variation:
19...Qxe5? 20.Bh7+ Kh8 21.Bg6+ Kg8 22.Qh7+ Kf8 23.Qxf7#.
The computer checks out another variation: 19...f5!? 20.Rfe1 Qh7 21.Qg5+ Qg7 22.f4 Qxg5 23.fxg5 Nb4 24.Bb3 Nd5 25.h4 Rd8 (Junior 6.0.). Now White can play: 26.g6 +/-.
20.f4!
Anchoring the Knight at e5. Opening the f-file would probably be disastrous for Black, even if he did win a piece.
[White could also play: 20.Qh5 Rd8 21.Ng4, +/- with a clear advantage. Or 20.Qg6+!? Kf8 21.Nf3 +/- ]
20...Re7
Black is doing what he can for his defense.
Black can also play: 20...fxe5? 21.Qg6+ Kf8 (21...Kh8? 22.Qxe8+, is a routine win for White.) 22.fxe5+ Ke7 23.Qg5+! (23.Rf7+ Kd8 24.Rxc7 +/-) 23...Kd7 24.Rf7+! Re7 25.Rxe7+ Nxe7 26.Rd1+! Nd5 27.Qg7+! Kd8 28.Qf8+ Kd7 29.Rxd5+! cxd5 30.Ba4+ Qc6 31.Qd6+! Ke8 32.Bxc6+, with an easily won position for White.
Black could also play: 20...Qg7!? 21.Qh5! Rd8 22.Rf3! +/-
21.Ng6! 1-0
Chernev, then writes: "The Rook is strangely caught." He gives the following beautiful variations:
A) 21...Rd7 22.Qh8+ Kf7 23.Qf8#
B) 21...Rf7 22.Qh8#
C) 21...Rh7 22.Qf8#
D) 21...f5!? 22.Qf8+ Kh7 23.Rf3! Nxf4
Continuing with D) 24.Nxf4 and White is winning easily (A.J.G.)
E) 21...Qb6+ 22.Kh1 Bd7 23.Qh8+ Kf7 24.Qh7+ Ke8 25.Qg8#, {A.J.G.}
F) 21…Re8 Seemingly the most logical 22.Qh8+ Kf7 23.Qh7#.
Chernev writes: "Where some Masters strike occasional brilliant notes, Pillsbury ripples off cadenzas." (The 1000 Best, Short Games of Chess).
An exciting struggle that features many sharp, daring and brilliant moves.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3!?
Pillsbury avoids his own variation 4.Bg5! which theorists all over the world recognize today as "The Pillsbury Attack/Variation.
4...c5 5.Bg5!?
This is probably good enough for a slight advantage for White. Modern theory says it is better to play the continuation: 5.e3!? Nc6 6.a3! +/= and White maintains a fairly solid edge. Black now finds a clever way to clarify the center to his advantage.
5...cxd4! 6.Qxd4!? Nc6 7.Qh4!?
This move has been deeply criticized by some. Lasker (later) wrote that 7.Bxf6?! led to a serious advantage for Black. (see next game for an improvement by Pillsbury!)
7...Be7 8.0-0-0!? Qa5!
The most aggressive line, says Irving Chernev.
9.e3 Bd7 10.Kb1 h6!
Black immediately questions the Bishop.The Pawn on h6 is either a weakness, or allows Black to win the dark-squared Bishop.
11.cxd5 exd5 12.Nd4!? 0-0 13.Bxf6
Now White felt this was completely forced, as the sacrifice on h6 is unsound and retreating to f4 walks into a pawn fork.
13.Bxh6? gxh6 14.Qxh6 Ne4! -/+
13...Bxf6 14.Qh5
This is practically the only good move for White in this position.
Now Black unexpectedly exchanges and seemingly helps White out.
But the most subtle difference is Black's Bishop on f6 is very strong
and the c-file has been opened for both of Lasker's Rooks.
14...Nxd4! 15.exd4 Be6! 16.f4!?
What is the point of this move?
Pillsbury plans a pawn avalanche ... (f5, g2-g4, h2-h4, and g4-g5) like he used to defeat the great Tarrasch
at Hastings, 1895,Game 1.
16.Bc4!? Rfd8 17.Rhe1 Rac8 =/+
16...Rac8!
The heavy piece naturally occupies the open line. This position looks nearly equal, but appearances can be often very deceptive!
17.f5
This appears to gain a move for White. Now comes one of the most surprising moves of high-class chess. A really profound concept! 17...Rxc3!!
This had to have been a rude shock for Pillsbury. Amos Burn - considered by many to be one of the best chess analysts of all time later said: "This begins the finest combination ever played on a chess board!" Also good for Black was: 17...Bd7!? 18.Be2!? Rxc3 -/+ with a vicious attack.
18.fxe6!?
Pillsbury tries to be tricky. After the continuation 18.bxc3 Qxc3 19.fxe6 White might as well try 19.Qf3!? 19…Qxf3! 20.gxf3 Bxf5+ 21.Bd3 Be6 -/+. 19...Qb4+ 20.Ka1 looks forced.
(Even worse is 20.Kc2? Rc8+ 21.Kd3 Qxd4+ 22.Ke2 Rc2+ -/+ and White will probably be mated in very short order.) 20...Rc8!! -/+ and Black should win.(exf7+ Kf8!)
Pillsbury may have thought he was holding. If so, Lasker's next move must have made Pillsbury's stomach roll over a few times!!
18...Ra3!!
A truly stunning move. "One of the greatest single moves ever played." - GM Ruben Fine. The point of this move? Lasker is obviously going to attack White's King!
19.exf7+!?
Pillsbury throws in a check, probably thinking it does not really change the situation a great deal. (But years later, analysis determined that this move is probably inaccurate.) Pillsbury later wrote he expected to win rather easily - mainly because he felt he was better and his opponent was critically short of time here. Believe it or not, White has to play the very dangerous looking continuation 19.bxa3! Qb6+ 20.Kc2!! 8, which leads to enormous complications -GM J.Nunn, GM J.Emms, and also FM Graham Burgess.
The players - in the postmortem came up with the following line: 19.e7?! Re8 20.bxa3 Qb6+ 21.Kc2 (Totally forced, if 21.Ka1 Bxd4+ 22.Rxd4 Qxd4+ 23.Kb1 Rxe7 =/+ or -/+) 21...Rc8+ 22.Kd2 Bxd4! 23.e8Q+!? Rxe8 24.Bd3 Qa5+ 25.Kc1 Rc8+ 26.Bc2 Rxc2+! -/+ and White is quickly mated.
19...Rxf7 20.bxa3!?
This could be forced.
20...Qb6+
This is the correct way to continue the assault against the White King. The most natural move here is to capture the Pawn on a3 with the Queen ...but after 20...Qxa3? 21.Qxd5 +/- White should win.
21.Bb5!
An ingenious defence that is nearly forced upon the great Pillsbury. After 21.Ka1 Bxd4+ 22.Rxd4 Qxd4+ 23.Kb1 Qe4+! 24.Kc1!? Rf2 -/+ White is lost -Irving Chernev. Also bad for White is 21.Kc2!? Rc7+ 22.Kd2 Qxd4+ 23.Bd3 Rc2+!! 24.Kxc2 Qb2# -Irving Chernev.
21...Qxb5+ 22.Ka1
This is definitely forced. Going the other way gets smashed very quickly 22.Kc1?? Bg5+ 23.Kc2?? Rc7#. Or even 22.Kc1?? Rc7+ 23.Kd2 Qb2+! 24.Ke1 Qxg2 -/+ and White probably cannot avoid mate.
22...Rc7!?
A nice-looking move and certainly one which apparently gives Black a strong attack. The threat is the very simple ...Rc2 followed by mate. And even more venomous is the threat of ...Rc1+!! followed by ...Bxd4+ and a quick mate. "Fifteen moves an hour was the prescribed time limit, and I already had consumed nearly two whole hours. Thus, I had to make these moves in a hurry," says Em.Lasker.
After 22...Qc4! -/+ Black probably has a decisive attack -Lasker. (White is forced to protect his d-pawn with something like Qg4. Then Black simply plays ...Re7 followed by ...Re2 winning.)
23.Rd2!? Rc4 24.Rhd1!? Rc3!
Another nice attacking move. Even better was 24...Qc6!! 25.Kb1 Bg5! 26.Qe2 (not 26.Re2?? Rc1+ and mates.) 26...Bxd2 27.Qxd2 Qd6! -/+ and Black should win.
25.Qf5!
Logically, White tries to re-centralize his Queen. White is worse off after 25.Qe2!? Rc1+!! 26.Rxc1 Bxd4+ 27.Rxd4 Qxe2 =/+ -Irving Chernev.
The best move is probably 25.Re1! 8 with good chances to defend. (GM John Nunn and GM J.Emms)
25...Qc4 26.Kb2
Pillsbury is trying to use the aggressive King approach, a la Steinitz, but it does not work here. (Lasker says this was a decisive mistake and Kb1 was definitely indicated.)
White appears, at a first and somewhat superficial glance, to be quite secure here. Black's threats are clearly seen in the following variation: 26.g4? Rc1+ 27.Rxc1 Qxc1+ 28.Qb1 Qxd2 -/+ and Black should win handily. The best line was "King-to-Knight-One": 26.Kb1 Rxa3!? 27.Qc2!? (while this looks good, Rc1 might be even better. 27...Rc3 28.Qb2 b5 =/+) though Black is probably better in this position –Analysis by Em.Lasker.
26...Rxa3!!
Who says lightning never strikes twice in the same place? This thunderous shot, coming as it did with both players short of time, must have floored poor Pillsbury.
"This is some kind of mysticism: the second rook is also sacrificed on the very same square!" - GM Garry Kasparov.
27.Qe6+ Kh7!?
Putting the King in the corner was much more accurate, but it must have been very difficult to thoroughly understand this with both players in extreme time pressure. Better was 27...Kh8! -/+ which probably should win for Black.
28.Kxa3?
With his flag now hanging, Pillsbury (sadly) commits a severe mistake. Better was 28.Qf5+! Kh8! (This might be good, but maybe the more natural ...Kg8 is even better!) 29.Kb1!! Rxa2!! 30.Rxa2!? Qb3+ 31.Kc1 Bg5+ 32.Rad2!? Qc3+ 33.Qc2 Qa1+ 34.Qb1 Qc3+ 35.Qc2 Qa1+ 36.Qb1 Qc3+ = (Kasparov) Black has a draw by perpetual check/repetition of the position!!!
Isn't it a bit much to ask these players to find such a deeply hidden resource, especially when both parties were in such desperate time trouble? The end is now mercifully swift.
28...Qc3+! 29.Ka4 b5+!! 30.Kxb5 Qc4+! 31.Ka5 Bd8+!
...and since White's only legal move is to throw his Queen in to block the check - and then promptly get mated, White resigned.
0-1
Despite the fact that Pillsbury had literally dozens of opportunities to play a possible improvement, over which he must have burnt untold hours of 'midnight oil' , he saved the big surprise for his next encounter with Lasker and Lasker alone!
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 c5
The continuation 4...c6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 +/= is a modern line known as the Meran System. The simple developing move 4...Be7 preparing a quick ...0-0 was also very playable for Black.
5.Bg5 cd4 6.Qxd4 Nc6
Lasker is ever-ready for a hand-to-hand combat. The funny part of the story - and a facet that is not very well known - is that Lasker said, in his chess magazine, that this position "clearly favored Black."
8.Qh4 dc4 9.Rd1 Bd7 10.e3 Ne5 11.Nxe5 fxe5 12.Qxc4 Qb6 13.Be2 Qxb2
No pawn is ‘poisoned’ for the indefatigable.
14.0-0 Rc8 15.Qd3 Rc7 16.Ne4 Be7 17.Nd6+ Kf8
At this point, I would be very curious to know how Lasker assessed his position ...equal, or worse? Simply inferior was 18...Qb4?! 19.Nxe5! +/= and White is clearly a little better.
19.f4!!
A truly brilliant move ...considering there might have been at least one other continuation that was VERY promising for Pillsbury here. In a way, this move is also the most logical. White wishes to open the f-file against the Black King. Interesting was 19.Rb1!? with great play for White. I have a very deep analysis that indicates the move 19.Qe4! +/= will give White good play against Black's very weak pawn structure. (A.J.G.)
19… exf4 20.Qd4!
With virtually the precision of a computer, Pillsbury once again shows the correct path.
20…f6 21.Qxf4 Qc5!
The crafty fox Lasker seemed to always find the best defense in almost every position. Several disasters awaited Lasker here, but he avoids stepping on any of Pillsbury's land-mines.
22.Ne5 Be8 23.Ng4 f5 24.Qh6+ Kf7 25.Bc4!! Rc6 26.Rxf5+! Qxf5 27.Rf1 Qxf1+ 28.Kxf1 Bd7 29.Qh5+ Kg8 30.Ne5 1-0
When he played the above game he was already in very poor health but he still had the tremendous will to win. Em. Lasker was deeply moved over his premature death. Lasker finally gave Frank Marshall a shot at the world title after Pillsbury’s death in 1907 but the former just blanked the challenger. One shudders to think where Pillsbury would have reached if he had lived a little longer! His life, just as his death had a certain “Keatsian” quality.
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