The Rook's Bailey

Emanuel Lasker was a dogged Chessplayer; a man who would never concede defeat no matter how bad the situation appeared to be over the chessboard. Once, a man approached the famed chessmaster and enquired as to why he was so reticent about resigning lost positions. Lasker famously replied, “I keep on fighting as long as my opponent can make a mistake."

I have always loved that quotation (which is why it is my official sig) because not only is it great advice for the Chessplayer, but it is also great advice for our day to day adversarial relationships away from the chessboard. Somehow I suspect Machiavelli would have found a way of incorporating Lasker’s wisdom into The Prince.

I recently had an opportunity to apply Mr. Lasker’s advice in a game of live Chess. I quickly found myself in dire trouble, but refused to resign and fought on for an eventual victory….

(35) RooksBailey - M. [B00]
Online Chess Chess.com (1), 10.10.2009
[Fritz 11 (30s)]

B00: Queen's Fianchetto Defence, Nimzowitsch Defence

1.e4 f5?

Fritz does not care for my opponent's opening move, but it did throw me off my game. For some reason, I was baffled as to how to proceed. Psychologically, it worked! I ultimately played a safe series of moves.

2.d3 [2.exf5!? Nf6 3.d4±] 2...Nf6 3.Nc3 e5 4.Bg5 Be7 5.Bxf6 Bxf6 6.Nf3 d6 7.Be2 f4 Black gains space 8.0–0 0–0 9.Nd5 c6 10.Nxf6+² Rxf6 11.d4± Rg6 12.dxe5+-

Somehow, I managed to nurse a slight advantage to a solid advantage - and then blew it:

12...Bh3 13.Qxd6?? ignoring the path to victory. [¹13.Ne1+- and White gets the upper hand]

Argh! Simply, my king felt threatened with Black's Rook and Bishop preparing to assault the castle walls, so I desperately looked around for a deflecting move and could only come up with this Queen sac!

13...Rxd6–+

It was here that my opponent gave me some good natured ribbing about my bad situation. I confess that I was tempted to hit the resignation button, but the wisdom of Lasker steeled my nerves!

14.exd6 Bg4 15.Rad1 [15.e5 doesn't change the outcome of the game 15...Nd7 16.Rfe1 g6–+] 15...Nd7 16.h3 [16.c3 does not save the day 16...Ne5! Deflection: f3 17.Rd2 Bxf3 18.Bxf3 Qh4–+] 16...Bxf3 17.Bxf3 Qh4 18.Rfe1 Re8 19.Kh2 Qxf2

I was looking at a very bleak situation. Despite my Queens noble sacrifice, my King is under direct assault yet again! Must...resist...the...urge...to...resign.

20. Re2 Qh4 21.Kg1 Re6

I spot a glimmer of hope. My Bishop, protected by the h3 pawn, has a skewer (Rook and Knight)! Maybe I can even things up?

22.Bg4 f3 [¹22...Kf7–+ and Black has prevailed]

Now my opponent blunders by failing to see the resulting check on his King!

23.Bxe6++-

Yes! My Queen is avenged! Lasker is affirmed!

23...Kh8 24.Rf2 24...Ne5 25.d7

My little pawn soldiers on with visions of royal glory in its head. I suspected that the queening square was too well protected for that...but I guess my opponent did not! I was surprised by his knight takes pawn!

25...Nxd7 26.Rxd7

I am thoroughly on the offensive, sensing a quick back row mate.

26...h6 27.Bf5 fxg2 28.Rxg2 [28.e5 Kg8 29.e6 h5 30.e7 Qxf2+ 31.Kxf2 Kf7 32.Bg6+ Kxg6 33.e8Q+ Kf5 34.Rf7+ Kg6 35.Kg1 c5 36.Qf8 Kg5 37.Qxg7+ Kh4 38.Kxg2 a6 39.Rf4#] 28...g5

Now I see Fritz's line...

29.e5 Qe1+= 30.Kh2 Qxe5+ Black forks: b2, h2+f5.

Darn it! I didnt see that fork because I was in time trouble and rushed my move. There goes my Bishop! Fortunately, I still have an advantage.

31.Rg3 Qxf5 32.Rxb7 Qxc2+ 33.Rg2 Qe4 34.Rf2 White has a mate threat 34...Qe8 35.Kg1 a5 36.Kf1 [¹36.Rff7 Qe3+ 37.Kh2=] 36...c5?? gives away a clear win

There I was, having an advantage but still forced to contemplate losing the game on time, when my opponent lends me a hand!

37.Rff7+- Qe4 [37...Qg8 is one last hope 38.Kf2 h5+-] 38.Rf8# 1–0

I truly believe that the only reason for my victory was my unwillingness to resign. I could almost feel my opponent becoming increasingly agitated when I fought on after losing my Queen. "Why won't he resign?!?" Agitation transformed into frustration and, finally, into blunder. I've seen this happen before...and it gets more enjoyable each time.

Never doubt Lasker....