[Event "St. Petersburg"] [Site "St. Petersburg RUE"] [Date "1909.02.15"] [EventDate "1909.02.15"] [Round "1"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [White "Rudolf Spielmann"] [Black "Georg Salwe"] [ECO "C66"] [WhiteElo "?"] [BlackElo "?"] [PlyCount "61"] 1. e4 e5 {Notes by Lasker.} 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O d6 5. d4 Bd7 6. Nc3 Be7 7. Re1 exd4 8. Nxd4 O-O 9. Bxc6 {This exchange leads to nothing, except, perhaps, that it prevents Black from exchanging both Knight and Bishop. This however, need not be feared.} bxc6 10. b3 Re8 11. Bb2 Bf8 12. Qd3 g6 13. Nde2 {This strategical manouver is altogether wrong. White might, at this juncture, play Rad1, and answer Bg7 with f4. Though the pawns at e4 and f4 are then exposed to attacks, yet they are not weak, and assist in maintaining the balance of position.} Bg7 14. Ng3 {Since Black already has moved the pawn to g6, the Knight is not favorably posted on this square.} h5 {A splendid strategical idea. From this insignificant beginning Black obtains a strong pressure on the King's side.} 15. Rad1 h4 16. Nf1 Nh5 17. Bc1 Be5 18. Ne2 g5 19. g3 Qf6 20. Qe3 g4 21. Nd2 d5 {If Black had played Be6 here, White would have been at a loss what to do. If, perchance, Rf1, to prepare f4, Black replies Kh8, and the advance of the f-pawn would then only open the lines for Black's Rooks and Bishops. If 22.Qd3, then d5; 23.Qa6? Bc8. In any case, White would have been in a precarious position.} 22. Nc4 {By exchanging one of the two Bishops, White frees his game, and now forces the draw, with correct judgement of the situation.} hxg3 23. fxg3 Qg6 24. Nxe5 Rxe5 25. Nf4 Nxf4 26. Qxf4 Rae8 27. Bb2 Rxe4 28. Rxe4 Qxe4 29. Qg5+ Qg6 30. Qh4 Qh7 31. Qg5+ 1/2-1/2