Energy Chains

A few days ago, I was going over some classical games and ran across this gem. The way Akiba Rubinstein breaks down George Rotlewi's defenses through precise and logical determination is quite instructive. Grab a chess set, a hot cup of tea, and enjoy!

G Rotlevi - A Rubinstein [D40]
Lodz Lodz, 1907

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.e3 c5 4.c4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Nf6 6.dxc5 Bxc5 7.a3 a6 8.b4 Bd6 9.Bb2 0-0 10.Qd2 This move has been universally condemmed. First of all, it doesn't do anything productive. Also, it limits the scope of the white queen (which could have gone to b3 if necessary.) 10...Qe7 11.Bd3 The d5-pawn is immune. For example 11.cxd5 exd5 12.Nxd5 Nxd5 13.Qxd5 Be6 14.Qd1 (14.Qg5 Bxb4+ 15.axb4 Qxb4+ wins a couple of pawns) 14...Nxb4! crushes white, who is under developed and his king is stuck in the center 15.axb4 Bxb4+ 16.Nd2 Rfd8 17.Bc1 and white is tied in knots. Black could continue to build up the pressure with Rac8, or play more forcefully. One fun variation is 17...Rxd2! 18.Bxd2 Rd8 19.Bxb4 Qxb4+ 20.Ke2 Qc4+ 21.Ke1 Qc3+ 22.Ke2 Bc4+ 23.Kf3 Qf6+ 24.Kg3 Rxd1 25.Rxd1 Qg5+ 26.Kf3 Qh5+ 27.g4 Bd5+ 28.Kf4 Qh6+ 29.Kg3

Rotlevi - Rubinstein, 1907

Black to move
Analysis diagram after 29. Kg3

It looks like white has escaped the harassment because of black's back rank problems, but 29...Qd6+! 30.f4 Qe7!! and white is still helpless for what's to come 31.Rxd5 (31.Kf2 Qh4+ 32.Ke2 Qxg4+ 33.Ke1 Qh4+ 34.Ke2 Bxh1 and the queen covers d8) 31...Qxe3+ 32.Kh4 Qf2+ 33.Kg5 h6+ 34.Kf5 g5! threatening mate 35.Ke4 Qxf4+ 36.Kd3 Qf3+ 37.Kd4 Qxh1 and the outcome is no longer in question 11...dxc4 12.Bxc4 b5 13.Bd3 Rd8 14.Qe2 Bb7 15.0-0 Ne5 16.Nxe5 Bxe5 17.f4 normally, this idea would be good. White is gaining time by hitting the bishop and will establish a strong pawn chain from e5 to h2, but with both of black's bishops aiming at the kingside, it may be prudent to keep the pawns where they are 17...Bc7 18.e4 Rac8 19.e5 Bb6+ 20.Kh1 Ng4 the first sign of danger. Look at the a8-h1 diagonal, as well as the weak squares at f2 and h2! 21.Be4 Qh4 22.g3

Rotlevi - Rubinstein, 1907

Black to move

At this point, it may seem like black has run out of steam, but looking a little closer, we see that a combination has to be in the cards. First of all, Rubinstein's king is safe. Also, all of his pieces are developed to their ideal square. Finally, the coordination among all of the pieces, especially the two bishops, guarantees a decisive outcome in black's favor.

22.h3 is another try, but also loses. Black demolishes the energy chain (as in the real game) with 22...Rxc3!! 23.Bxc3 (23.Qxg4? Rxh3+! 24.Qxh3 (24.gxh3 Bxe4+ 25.Rf3 Qf2 26.Bd4 Bxf3+ 27.Qxf3 Qxf3+ 28.Kh2 Rxd4) 24...Qxh3+ 25.gxh3 Bxe4+ 26.Kh2 Rd2+ 27.Kg3 Rg2+ 28.Kh4 Bd8+ 29.Kh5 Bg6#) 23...Bxe4 24.Qxg4 (24.Qxe4 Qg3 25.hxg4 Qh4#) 24...Qxg4 25.hxg4 Rd3!! and the mate threat on h3 guarantees the return of the piece 26.Kh2 Rxc3 27.Rfc1 Rxc1 28.Rxc1 h6 and Rubenstein would go on to win. The key is that Rotlevi can never use his rook as an attacking piece because his queenside pawns would fall.

At this point, it is clear how white's energy chain has evolved and, once we recognize it, black's next move is quite obvious. The goal is black's king, which is defeneded well by the bishop on e4. In order to remove that piece, we need to remove its defender (the knight on c3). The energy chain goes from c3 to e4 to h1 - now that's a chain! 22...Rxc3 in "Rubinstein's Chess Masterpieces", Kmoch gives this move three exclamation points! 23.gxh4 Rd2!! "The natural but amazing follow-up to Black's plan" 24.Qxd2 Bxe4+ And the energy chain has been demolished 25.Qg2 Rh3!! There is no way to stop the mate on h2. 0-1