The Most Beautiful Chess Moves
“When you see a good move, wait and look for a better one.” Emanuel Lasker (1868 – 1941)
German chess player Emanuel Lasker was the “World Champion” for 27 years and one of the best players of all time. He was also a successful mathematician. He was also a close friend of Albert Einstein. In fact, Einstein expressed his regret that Lasker did not devote himself to science. However, chess was a passion for Lasker. For him, chess was not just a battle of moves. It was also a battle of passions, emotions, desires, and thoughts. Lasker sought not only the best move, but also the move that would most unsettle his opponent. Sometimes, he would provoke his opponent into making a mistake with a seemingly illogical play. He would then defeat his opponent with flawless play. He did not hesitate to deliberately make bad moves to disrupt his opponent’s balance in the game. As in his historic match against Tarrasch in the 1908 World Championship! In the fourth round, Lasker boldly put his rook in danger: Ke5, Kc5, and Kxf4. These moves would not normally be chosen. Especially not in a world championship! However, Lasker’s rook was enough to disrupt the balance of Tarrasch, who preferred systematic play.
Tarrasch-Lasker, Düsseldorf 1908, World Championship Spanish Opening, Berlin Defense
1.e4 e5 2.Af3 Ac6 3.Fb5 Af6 4.O-O d6 5.d4 Fd7 6.Ac3 Fe7 7.Ke1 exd4 8.Axd4 Axd4 9.Vxd4 Fxb5 10.Axb5 O-O 11.Fg5 11.Vc3 11…h6 12.Fh4 Ke8 13.Kad1 Ad7 14.Fxe7 Kxe7 15.Vc3 Ke5.
Black’s move goes against general chess understanding. However, Tarrasch’s play was risk-free. 16.Ad4 Kc5 The rook in an uncomfortable position could cause problems for Black. Of course, the aim is to disrupt the balance of Tarrasch’s play.
17.Vb3 Ab6 18.f4 Vf6 19.Vf3 Ke8 20.c3 a5 21.b3 a4 22.b4?! Kc4 23.g3 Kd8 24.Ke3 c5 25.Ab5? 25… cxb4 26.Kxd6 Kxd6 27.e5
27.. Kxf4! is an extraordinary move, coming from a problematic castle.
