Chess Openings

Chess Opening Moves: John vs. Janowski

White: John, Walter
Black: Janowski, Dawid Markelowicz
Place: Mannheim
Year: 1914
Chess Opening Moves: Sicilian Defense

1. e4 c5

2. Nf3 Nc6

3. d4 cxd4

4. Nxd4 Nf6

In these chess opening moves, Black wants White to move his Knight to c6 to defend the pawn. This will prevent White from moving his pawn to c4. Why is that important to Black? A White pawn at c4 will control the d5 square and will stop Black from moving d5. In addition it will hamper the movement of Black's e pawns since it will not be supported by the d pawn, which will become a so called backward pawn. Continuing the chess opening moves:

5. Nc3 g6

This move is premature. It is inherently weakening and in order to get the best out it d6 should be played first. Even then g6 can lead to difficulties. For instance if after 5 d6, White moves 6 Bc4, and Black plays 6 … g3, the play will proceed 7 Nxc6 bxc6; 8 e5! Ng4 (dxe5? 9 Bxf7+); 9 e6 f5. This position is more rewarding for White. Last continuation was taken from a tournament game between Masters Schlechter and Lasker.

6. Nxc6 bxc6

7. e5 Ng8

8. Bc4 d5

9. exd6ep exd6

10. Qf3

Difference in development is striking. Three of the White's pieces are fully committed to action while all of the remaining Black's pieces are in their starting positions. There can only be one outcome from such an unbalanced position. There are also specific threats. Black's f7 pawn cannot be protected by moving the Queen to d7 due to 11 Bxf7+ Qxf7; 12 Qxc6+. If black tries to move His Queen to e7 and check the White King, 11 Be3 Bg7; 12 O-O-O and Rhe1, with an irresistible assault, will be the result.

10. ... d5

11. Nxd5

White sacrifices the Knight to open lines in the centre so that his Rook can take part in the action. He judges that because he has an overpowering lead in development and because Black King cannot move out of the centre, this course of action is justified. He could have archived the win without the sacrifice by following the continuation annotated above.

11. ... cxd5

12. Bxd5 Qe7+

13. Be3 Rb8

14. O-O

Castling queen-side would have been even better, since it allows the rook on that side to get into play immediately.

14. ... Bg7

15. Bf4 Rb6

16. Bc6+ Rxc6

If Black played 16 … Bd7 the play might have continued on the line; 17 Bxd7+ Qxd7; 18 Rad1 Qb7; 19 Rfe1+ Ne7; 20 Rxe7+ Kxe7; 21 Bg5+ etc. or in case 18 … Qc8 19 Bg5 etc.

If White plays 17 Re1 Black could prolong the proceedings using Bf6. White however plays Qxc6+, and Black's remaining resistance crumbles fast in the face of White's well coordinated attack.

17. Qxc6+ Qd7

18. Rfe1+ Ne7

19. Rxe7+ Kxe7

20. Re1+ Kf8

21. Bd6+ Kg8

22. Re8+ Bf8

23. Rxf8+ Kg7

24. Qc3+

Black resigns.